i’m DADA

Holy Wave — 2026

“i’m DADA offers flashes of hypnotic psych-pop, even when its familiar formula keeps the bigger moments at a distance.”

The Fire Note has been following Holy Wave ever since their dual-EP collection Evil Hits was released in 2013. It was a real classic collage of SoCal surf, fuzzy freakouts, and desert-heat-laden lo-fi. Believe it or not, the group’s latest release, i’m DADA holds onto that original DNA albeit there’s more experimental polish applied to help make the album pop.

If 2023’s Five of Cups was the band’s dive into dreamier shoegaze, i’m DADA uses a double entendre that refers not only to the avant-garde art movement, but talking to FLOOD, Kyle Hager explains, “i’m DADA’ is a song about balance.” To paraphrase the full quote, “it’s about showing up for your kids as a good parent (literally dada) but it’s also about following your creative passions too. To help add some extra splashes to their sonic palette the album has the band collaborating with Lorelle Meets the Obsolete’s Lorena Quintanilla and Alberto González. These songs float down a hypnotic, lazy river with the band veering into acid loops and melting electronica.

“s33.u.in/HAL” is a standout that goes from acoustic to My Bloody Valentine wall of sound. “First DAE” is a brisk move with catchy keys that punctuate the chorus. The title track has a fun chorus that repeats “dada, dada, dada.”

This album sparkles and shimmers somewhere between modern-day Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s Quarters and Paper Mâché Dream Balloon. The album also twinkles with the sheen that affects Radiohead’s guitars from Hail to the Thief. Many of the modern-day influences are here too including Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Night Beats, and Allah-Las.

Ultimately i’m DADA suffers from a formulaic approach. Its dynamic between jangling acoustics and blazing shoegaze makes the standout moments feel few and far between. After Five of Cups, the album feels like a series of half risks that leave the listener searching for the payoff. Start at Relax and then move to Interloper. If you need more Holy Wave then i’m DADA will always be there for you.