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Black Dice, "Broken Ear Record"
For Black Dice's third full-length LP for DFA, they've almost completely abandoned the tropical sunshine of Creature Comfortsand embraced their family's beat tendencies. It's still Black Dice,however, and the whimsical surrealistic approach to songwriting isstill present, however it's more refined than ever.
Beat is the key ingredient on the first couple songs, but it's not ahard-pounding techno floor beat. It's almost a mind-controllingblood-pumping beat that owes a lot to Rough Trade-era Cabaret Voltaire(pre-1983). There's blistering analogue-like sound manipulation, dubbyechoes, live drums, guitar effects and loops, and sweeping electronicsounds, all mixed together in very pleasantly. If my Cabaret Voltairecomparison wasn't enough, "Smiling Off," the album's first single andvideo, will easily find room in anybody's heart who loves CV's classic"Sluggin fer Jesus," for its primitive soul and its bump and shakewriggling beats. As the beats almost become way too comfortable, BlackDice switches gears and the song becomes overcome with low guitarbuzzing and hums and nonlyrical vocalizations. Black Dice find aresting point in the next couple songs, with the serene "HeavyManners," allowing the guitar, vocals, and effects to carry therhythmic pulse throughout the song, and "Aba," short and sweet with apretty synth melody. Another couplet follows, each returning to thedissonant cacophony Black Dice fans and followers have come to expect,both are rhythmic but clouded by a mess of squeals and a roaring noise."Motorcycle" closes the disc with an almost hint to Creature Comfortswith its spritely Carribbean island-like guitar, while the prominentstomp-clap beats, dog bark-like whooping, and gargling sounds make surethat the oddity is still intact.
Don't confuse evolution and refinement with selling out. Black Dicearen't making compromises despite any notions of pressure since theworldwide DFA deal, which includes exclusive manufacturing anddistribution by Astralwerks/Caroline in North America, but they areclearly evolving and embracing more.
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