These Swiss experimentalists adopt Dadaist themes and a range of influences – from surf rock to ambient jazz – on new album SUM for Baltic label YNFND.

The second single is named after Silvia Federici and her feminist and left leaning thinking provides the context and concept around the latest fuzzy head-nodder Federici. While awaiting the album, one can only wonder as to what political and artistic themes may be present on the album, for it to live up to the associations with Dada – the Swiss anti-nationalist artistic movement that arose after the First World War.

Ali Dada features Orlando Ludens (guitar and ambient soundscapes), Rulla (beats and field recordings) and Max Licht (brass and trombone). Experimentation is the trio’s constant and a fluid sense of genre. The three first crossed paths at Berlin’s Klunkerkranich cultural centre in 2018. They reunited in Switzerland and performed their first gig together in 2019, their debut album was released on the Russian label Leveldva in 2020, followed by various singles and EPs.

Album SUM is released on label YNFND, which is also an artist collective and event organisation and the small baltic DIY label has become known for its eclectic blend of organic and electronic music, thanks to a wide range of releases.

Tone print was the band’s first single from SUM, which combines sliding guitar, Psychedelic Tim – an American accented narrator, known for guitar tutorials, with the sample capturing his thoughts on new guitar pedal “Tone Print”. There are also some early Super Mario sound-splats and beats, all creating another head-nodding groove.

Other personnel and experimentalists on Ali Dada’s SUM include Sofia Sturm on harp and ukulele, Häuserfrau on vocals and Mishy Misch who is described as being an advisory board, enabler and important ally.

More here: Ali Dada – Instagram and YNFND – Linktree.

The debut album SUM is released on 20th September.