dd/mm/yyyy

The seven-headed monster that is DD/MM/YYYY seemed to have found some coherency, or at least greater cohesion, on Black Square. From start to finish, they have found a way to tighten their sound, creating more straightforward melodies ("I'm Still in the Wall" and "Birdtown") while maintaining their DADA influence and general chaos. That's not to say their past releases have fallen short; in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The group have always been a bright spot in the ever-crowded Toronto scene, finding a way to remain entertaining while altering listeners' minds on what "rock" can actually sound like. Waves of static filter through "Lismer" before synth pulses bring the song to its end; and mind-numbing time signatures and shifts accompany all 12 tracks. But it's hard not to hear the polish beneath the layers of bedlam, sounding very similar to Q And Not U, at times, on "Digital Haircut" and "Bronzage." If there's any chance for DD/MM/YYYY's appeal to grow beyond their current fan base, Black Square is what will take them there.