Black Dice - Creature Comforts
[FatCat]

For a band on their third album release, Black Dice still don't fail to excite. 'Creature Comforts' is as remarkable as it's older siblings, if not more daring, especially in the sense that, the band have not only veered more into accessibility, but also retain the playful inventiveness of 'Beaches & Canyons' and recent EP 'Miles Of Smiles'.

'Beaches And Canyons' was the band's pinnacle in skewed noise and journey through sound manipulation, complete with it's destructive, Spacemen 3 drone-out ending. 'Creature Comforts' may share the same ideology of the group's former releases, but it's the introduction of percussive instruments, Krautrock rhythms and a more "song-based" direction, which distances the LP from their back catalogue.

Although Black Dice lead a fresher, more focused vision with this release, tracks still have a habit of changing course unknowingly, with the band following which-ever direction the sound takes them. This improvised, unadulterated take on twisted electronica, quirky sound effects and chaotic guitar distortion, is what primarily makes Black Dice so appealing.

These young Faust enthusiasts not only pay homage to the great experimental oddities of the past, but ultimately look to the future, embracing as many contemporary influences to create a sound that, not only stretches musical boundaries, but opens the door to a world full of new possibilities.

While music of this nature can become lost within it's own free-form improvisation, 'Creature Comforts' is the trio's most cohesive and successful record to date. A stunning musical statement and a benchmark release in experimental music, Fat Cat's un-earthing of truly unique music remains as impressive as ever.