2001 - DICE IN SPACE

The music of "Dice" is preoccupied with trips to inner and outer space, so it was inevitable, if a bit superfluous, that they would eventually produce an effort entitled "Dice in Space".

The centrepiece "New Things in Space", is a 17 minute no-holes barred psych fest, featuring intermittent spoken and shouted lines, plenty of whooshes, and no discernible structure. This is not the first time Dice has dabbled in the like, thinking of "Croon" off "Silvermoon", but even there some sort of focus was brought to bear. So if you enjoy this type of noodling, be aware that herein may lie your favourite Dice album. It's not my cup of tea.

The pieces are linked by sounds reminiscent of those in PINK FLOYD's echoes, but on the whole this is much warmer and gentler music than Floyd. They manage to conjure a variety of emotions and styles, many of which are throwbacks to the 1970s. The most outstanding track is "No Return", with mystical overtones and brilliant guitar and synth solos galore. I have tried in vain to establish a single 1970s reference, but it really contains an amalgam of many, including the obvious suspects but also SANTANA and FLEETWOOD MAC (think BOB WELCH's "Hypnotized" or "Future Games"). Suffice to say it is a dynamic and uplifting 11+ minutes, and one of my favourite Dice tracks.

Other highlights abound, such as the lilting lead guitar solo "The Journey", which would sound at home on a RUNRIG album. "Hold On" incorporates a bit of swagger and some horns (which may be synthesized) and scorching leads. The album also opens strongly with the melodic "What is Wrong with Me" in which Nove activates his distinct spoken style to delightful effect in a nursery rhyme style, and the captivating "Three Dreams", with its dirge like verses and outstanding instrumental breaks, some of which belie a certain Bavarian influence.

Taking away the incongruous title opus and the recap of "Goodbye", which had been a closer on an earlier album, we would have a 36 minute 5 star masterpiece and Dice's best album, no questions asked. This gives us plenty of space for 4 stars and an excellent entry point to the Dice universe.