DUBINSKI w/ special guests Puppy Teeth and Clay Rings

What’s your definition of happiness? Is it acceptance from someone else or of yourself? Is it the feeling that you’re OK with whoever you are at any given time? Maybe it’s the thirst to grow from experience and changes that are on the horizon. Or is it just being able to enjoy being in the moment?

These are big questions that, to be addressed with any level of success, need tackling by a special band. Welcome to the new album by Dubinski.

A simpler answer to finding happiness could be to just put Dubinski’s album on. In examining the concept of happiness, the brothers have created an album that opens with a synthpop banger about societal injustice, then takes a host of intriguing twists and turns before concluding with the achingly beautiful finale Safety In The Comfort Zone.

The album opens with a plea for societal unity while decrying structural injustice (highlighted with a sample of iconic trade unionist Arthur Scargill), then turns to more personal songs, tracks about twisted romance and the perils of trying to survive as a DIY live band. Everything is set to a compelling, invariably infectious soundtrack which fuses elements of LCD Soundsystem, Parquet Courts, The Clash, Maximo Park and Paul Simon.

Those influences meld into Dubinski becoming their own unique force, while being able to stand alongside socially conscious, fierce bands such as Fontaines D.C, Benefits and Yard Act as artists whose music combines big anthems with strong principles.

“A lot of these songs have something bittersweet to them,” considers singer Eugene Gaine, the youngest of Dubinski’s four brothers. “It’s a record of love, happiness, pain, sorrow, grief, healing, growth and acceptance.” We wanted to tell a story with this album, and the flow is similar to the way the seasons change.”

Having gained acclaim from 2022’s self-titled debut, the band wanted to broaden their sound. Synths are to the fore across these 12 songs, with mellotron helping to fuse Dubinski’s new and different elements. The anthemic Physical Scars and swaggering funk of Mistaken For Trouble helped sonically set the tone in establishing a groove to the album. There’s also room for more lyrical, chilled moods, like the tender Making Luck, written when “I was in love, but feeling helpless,” notes Eugene.

The opening verse of the rampaging single Homesick proclaims “They were throwing darts at Putin.” - this isn’t a slick metaphor, as Dubinski really did witness that happen to an effigy of the dictator. “We were taken aback seeing that,” admits drummer Eoin. “We live in Edinburgh, and it shows how sheltered we are. It’s easy to forget the reality of people’s lives in other countries.”

Dubinski’s political side surfaces again in Action Comes To Town, singing of leaving your hopes at the door and dying for queen and country, and just like Homesick and Downtown Operation, it’s wrapped in a bulletproof melody. “Although some songs are politically driven, we want them to be accessible,” insists Eugene. “We didn’t want this to be a political album, as it’s just one aspect of society. We simply wanted to address the different areas of our lives as we live it.”

Bassist Donal co-writes lyrics with Eugene, with the swaggering Franz Ferdinand funk of Something About You addressing his desire to change himself after suffering from covid. “I thought how things would be different, that I’d come out of covid a changed man,” he recalls. “The sun was shining through the window, and I started playing my bass and that song came out. And then the first thing I did when I got well was to move to the countryside, so I guess it had an impact.”

Donal is the only Gaine to live outside Edinburgh, 25 miles away in the Borders. Eoin, Donal, Eugene and guitarist Fergus grew up in Yorkshire, moving to Glenlivet before settling in Edinburgh. “We’re solid,” smiles Donal, deflecting any Oasis/Kinks concerns of warring brothers. “We’ve all been through a lot, but we’re united as brothers both as a band and a family.”

Fergus adds: “We’re better at doing things just as brothers since the first album. We hang out more, doing things that aren’t just about music. Being brothers helps us. We can be honest with each other about when a song works or doesn’t. We don’t push those buttons too hard with each other. We sometimes fall out, but we always quickly make it up when we do, because we love each other.”

The brothers’ parents were crucial in shaping their political beliefs, with their father recommending they investigate Arthur Scargill when Eugene asked for a potential sample to feature in Downtown Operation. Dad emigrated to London from Limerick, while their mother was born in Bradford to Polish and Ukrainian immigrants. As Eugene points out: “The mistreatment our parents endured in their youth gave them socialist values, and that rubbed off on us. The political messages in some of our songs isn’t exclusively what we’re about, but it is certainly a part of us.”

Dubinski are named after their mother’s maiden name. She died as the band were about to sign their record deal. “It’s special to see mum’s name on our posters,” says Eugene. “She was always proud of us and we want to make her prouder.”

Once Eoin got his first drum kit, the other brothers soon began learning how to play music. Donal smiles: “Our parents taught us to be socially aware, and they were also so encouraging in letting us be creative. They let us play music at whatever time we wanted. We’d jam at 2am if we felt like it. Mum was an artist, dad was a teacher who was also a musician. There was always lots of cool art at home. Not many people’s parents are so creative themselves and welcoming of their children’s creativity too.”

This encouraging atmosphere extended to cajoling the young Eugene to sing in front of his elder brothers. Aged nine, he began singing but was too shy to step in front of the mic until his father plugged a mic in for him. “There was no going back from there,” he grins.

Early covers of Queens Of The Stone Age, The White Stripes, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Led Zeppelin soon led to their own songs. Few bands have documented the hardships of life in an underground band better than the sardonic New York, Arizona and This, as Eugene sings: “I can’t believe I’ve never been to this place called Camden Town,” while taking on shady promoters and pay-to-play. It was written “while we were pissed off in the van,” the singer admits, though Eoin points out: “It’s not just a song that resonates with people in bands. Everyone has had a terrible journey to London at some point. It’s got a great singalong for doing it live.”

The album was recorded at Echo Zoo studio in Eastbourne with Dubinski’s regular producers Mike Horner and Robbie Nelson, whose credits encompass The Rolling Stones, Hot Chip, Hozier and Deaf Havana. The brothers are united in their praise of Horner and Nelson’s ability to coax new ideas from each other. Only on Safety In The Comfort Zone was there any tension, as Eoin remembers: “We didn’t have the vibe right for that song for ages. Then Mike and Robbie shouted at us, I stormed off and had a double whisky and suddenly the right mood came.”

Eugene notes that Horner and Nelson help him figure out what style he should try for his vocals on each song. He’s an incredibly versatile singer, ranging from the intimate Making Luck to ferocious Feel It, via a deep, dark croon similar to Hamish Hawk on What’s Even Normal. “I love playing around with my voice,” Eugene enthuses. “I like figuring out the energy to put into each song: should I spit it out or sit back? Once I’m in the pocket, that’s it, then it’s take after take.”

The sinister tone Eugene adopts on What’s Even Normal matches the song’s inspiration, a whirlwind romance that quickly turned toxic. “Asking myself ‘what's even normal’, I wondered as I wrote the lyrics to this song how clarity, straight thinking and even what’s right and wrong can be blurred when in a toxic situation. The whole scene and experience was intense and unhealthy, like some sort of weird dream. I feel like I was very naive at the time and was so relieved when it finally ended.”’

With the Gaine brothers starting to be able to repay some of their father’s encouragement by having him join them on tour – “he’ll say: ‘Oh, I’ve never been there!’ when he sees our tour schedule,” says Donal – Dubinski’s new album deserves to see them reach everywhere.

The band want people to explore what happiness means to them after hearing their music. With songs this emotional, catchy, by turns searing and calming, it’s certain listeners will be happier once they’ve explored Dubinski’s second album.

David Gray

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