Rubik (band)
Encyclopedia
Rubik is a Finnish
indie pop/rock band known for its unique style of rich sound, complex but well-contained arrangements, changing rhythms and melodies ranging from playful and danceable to wistful and delicate.
The band started to emerge in the late ’90s in the eastern Finnish town of Kuopio where the drummer Sampa Väätäinen and the singer Artturi Taira began playing together joined later by the keyboardist/guitarist Samuli Pöyhönen. They became Rubik in 2003 when they played their first live show. The band released their debut EP People Go Missing in the beginning of 2005 through New Music Community, causing a stir in the indie scene.
The band's first full-length album, titled Bad Conscience Patrol, was released in March 2007 through Fullsteam Records
and met with excitement in Finland. Following the release, the band toured in Finland, the US and Canada and performed at European festivals.
Their second album entitled Dada Bandits was released on April 1, 2009. In the review of the album Spin Magazine wrote: “ADHD’d Finns explode piano balladry, spacey synths, drum blarts, mariachi brass, and a hypnotic chorus, then let the pieces fall into place”. “Listening to Dada Bandits, it’s hard not to feel that Rubik’s done more-rather than following international trends, they’re showing us all the way forward”, wrote Nylon Magazine. Filter Magazine described “It’s pure prog for now people… or perhaps No Wave for those with less access to cheap heroin. Freaky.” The band toured in Finland and in Europe and twice in the US, first in autumn 2009 and again in summer 2010 playing with mewithoutYou
. After the US tour the band played at Roskilde festival
in Denmark and Øya festival in Norway in summer 2010.
The third full-length album Solar was released March 23, 2011 receiving praising critiques both in the Finnish and international media. When reviewing the album, Die Zeit wrote: "'Solar' offers an array of songs with almost flawless pop structures." The blog Burning Ear described the album's songs as follows: "'World Around You' is a toy train on steroids as it careens its day-glo body around beautifully sloping railways on a summer afternoon. 'Storm In a Glass of Water' and 'Solar Death March (In Octaves)' showcase their knack for making beautiful music even when stripped down to it’s barest bones. And all that is less than half the album." The Finnish music monthly Sue named Solar "a modern Finnish national treasure, 9/10".
A juxtaposition of light and dark courses throughout the Solar. The album was written and recorded during the summer 2010 in a former movie theatre in Kulttuuritalo
(Finnish for The House of Culture), designed by Alvar Aalto
and built by leftist volunteers in the 1950's. “Every morning we put on our work clothes, had a morning meeting at 9am in the Kulttuuritalo [House of Culture] café and then went to work on the songs underground until 3am. It was 25 degrees outside and we were in darkness”, Rubik has told of the writing and recording process. The album was mixed by Ben Allen who has also mixed albums for M.I.A
, Cut Copy
, Deerhunter
and Animal Collective
. The months following the release the band toured all over Finland. From May to June Rubik toured in Europe playing also at the Primavera festival in Barcelona being the first Finns ever to play at this top indie-rock festival. The same summer the band played at all the major festivals in Finland. In September 2011 Rubik began a two-month tour heading to Europe, Mexico's Cervantino festival and the US playing 38 concerts altogether.
The band has been acclaimed for its devoted performance. In concerts there are up to ten musicians on stage playing instruments from the clockwork to the gong and exchanging them with each other. Also when writing and recording songs Rubik tries to abandon traditional roles in the band and aims for a more ego-free and collective process focused on ideas.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
indie pop/rock band known for its unique style of rich sound, complex but well-contained arrangements, changing rhythms and melodies ranging from playful and danceable to wistful and delicate.
The band started to emerge in the late ’90s in the eastern Finnish town of Kuopio where the drummer Sampa Väätäinen and the singer Artturi Taira began playing together joined later by the keyboardist/guitarist Samuli Pöyhönen. They became Rubik in 2003 when they played their first live show. The band released their debut EP People Go Missing in the beginning of 2005 through New Music Community, causing a stir in the indie scene.
The band's first full-length album, titled Bad Conscience Patrol, was released in March 2007 through Fullsteam Records
Fullsteam Records
Fullsteam is an independent group of music companies whose activities include a record label, promotion and booking agency, festivals, a distribution company, rehearsal rooms, merchandising, publishing and management....
and met with excitement in Finland. Following the release, the band toured in Finland, the US and Canada and performed at European festivals.
Their second album entitled Dada Bandits was released on April 1, 2009. In the review of the album Spin Magazine wrote: “ADHD’d Finns explode piano balladry, spacey synths, drum blarts, mariachi brass, and a hypnotic chorus, then let the pieces fall into place”. “Listening to Dada Bandits, it’s hard not to feel that Rubik’s done more-rather than following international trends, they’re showing us all the way forward”, wrote Nylon Magazine. Filter Magazine described “It’s pure prog for now people… or perhaps No Wave for those with less access to cheap heroin. Freaky.” The band toured in Finland and in Europe and twice in the US, first in autumn 2009 and again in summer 2010 playing with mewithoutYou
MewithoutYou
Me Without You, stylized as mewithoutYou and abbreviated as mwY, is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of vocalist Aaron Weiss, guitarist Michael Weiss, bassist Greg Jehanian and drummer Rickie Mazzotta. MewithoutYou's music is generally dominated by...
. After the US tour the band played at Roskilde festival
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
in Denmark and Øya festival in Norway in summer 2010.
The third full-length album Solar was released March 23, 2011 receiving praising critiques both in the Finnish and international media. When reviewing the album, Die Zeit wrote: "'Solar' offers an array of songs with almost flawless pop structures." The blog Burning Ear described the album's songs as follows: "'World Around You' is a toy train on steroids as it careens its day-glo body around beautifully sloping railways on a summer afternoon. 'Storm In a Glass of Water' and 'Solar Death March (In Octaves)' showcase their knack for making beautiful music even when stripped down to it’s barest bones. And all that is less than half the album." The Finnish music monthly Sue named Solar "a modern Finnish national treasure, 9/10".
A juxtaposition of light and dark courses throughout the Solar. The album was written and recorded during the summer 2010 in a former movie theatre in Kulttuuritalo
Kulttuuritalo
Kulttuuritalo is a building in Alppila, Helsinki. The building was designed by Alvar Aalto, and is considered to be one of his main works.- The building :...
(Finnish for The House of Culture), designed by Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
and built by leftist volunteers in the 1950's. “Every morning we put on our work clothes, had a morning meeting at 9am in the Kulttuuritalo [House of Culture] café and then went to work on the songs underground until 3am. It was 25 degrees outside and we were in darkness”, Rubik has told of the writing and recording process. The album was mixed by Ben Allen who has also mixed albums for M.I.A
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
, Cut Copy
Cut Copy
Cut Copy are an Australian electronic band formed in 2001 by Dan Whitford on vocals, keyboard and guitar. Other members are Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, Ben Browning on bass guitar and Mitchell Scott on drums. Their second album, In Ghost Colours peaked at number-one on the ARIA Albums Chart in...
, Deerhunter
Deerhunter
Deerhunter is an American four-piece indie rock group originating from Atlanta, Georgia. The band, consisting of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh Fauver, and Lockett Pundt, have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise rock, art...
and Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
. The months following the release the band toured all over Finland. From May to June Rubik toured in Europe playing also at the Primavera festival in Barcelona being the first Finns ever to play at this top indie-rock festival. The same summer the band played at all the major festivals in Finland. In September 2011 Rubik began a two-month tour heading to Europe, Mexico's Cervantino festival and the US playing 38 concerts altogether.
The band has been acclaimed for its devoted performance. In concerts there are up to ten musicians on stage playing instruments from the clockwork to the gong and exchanging them with each other. Also when writing and recording songs Rubik tries to abandon traditional roles in the band and aims for a more ego-free and collective process focused on ideas.
Discography
- People Go Missing (EP) – New Music Community 2004
- "City & the Streets" (single) – FullsteamFullsteam RecordsFullsteam is an independent group of music companies whose activities include a record label, promotion and booking agency, festivals, a distribution company, rehearsal rooms, merchandising, publishing and management....
2007 - Bad Conscience Patrol – Fullsteam 2007
- Jesus vs. People (compilation) – Fullsteam 2007
- Dada Bandits – Fullsteam 2009
- Data Bandits EPEPEPEP (digi EP) – Fullsteam 2010
- Laws of Gravity (single) - Fullsteam 2011
- Solar – Fullsteam 2011