WATERWORLD

For a self proclaimed "cosmic prog" group, DICE expends a surprising amount of effort exploring inner realms, such as nightmares, dreams and aspects of the inner self as it relates to one's exterior presentation. This title of this 2002 release implies a devotion to all matters aquatic, but, while the subject is explored, at times it seems like the group's album titles are as much designed to provoke musical escapism as cling doggedly to an overarching theme at all costs. Which is fine.

The album begins with a monster cut, "21st Century Space Blues", that is 10+ minutes of HAWKWIND styled repetitive verses and choruses, with the usual DICE technical prowess in the service of Nove's musical ideas, and he seems to have many. "The Coming Day" is a languid ballad with pleasant acoustic guitar and Nove's "talking on tune" style, which reappears on the equally strong "Let me Be Alive" near the end of the disk. Then we have the aptly titled "Things are Getting Better", an orgy of rousing choruses and jamming, truly one of DICE's defining songs. "Spanish Shoes" is highly suggestive of PINK FLOYD for most of its length - think "On the Run" - but it departs in the last minute or two when the vocals suddenly appear amidst the blubbering ocean sounds and electronic beeps and burps. The same single line is all that is sung, but the line hits all the right notes without and within.

Really, the only weak number of any length here is "SOS Planet Earth Cries", which is more obtuse musically but more direct lyrically than most of what we get from DICE, so it could be your favourite, if you are not a big fan of the band. "Waterworld" shows DICE turning in one of their most watertight efforts up to that point. and could be a good starting point for your exploration of this German band.