Dicepeople - End of Line

London-based duo Dicepeople's third album End of Line is jam packed with multilayered dark electro magic, harboring more than a few pleasant twists within its intricate sonic maze. A deft amalgamation of atmospheric ambient sounds, edgy electronic compositions and big rhythms propels this album and successfully maintains its dramatic and pensive tone throughout.

One of the defining features of Dicepeople as producers of great dark electro is their unique ability to build a track's momentum without missing a beat; in each composition they use only the most appropriate ingredients to give a track exactly what it needs in order to be have an impact, nothing more and nothing less. Track elements are added to the mix in a wonderfully seamless fashion along with tastefully arranged vocals, reaching a poignant and logical finale each time.

There is an eerie depth to each track on End of Line, backed by flawless, razor-sharp production. Bruised's intro evokes the atmospheric sprawl of Biosphere's drone textures, with softly delivered half-spoken vocals growing more echoey and eventually suffusing and enveloping the track's rich soundscape as it draws to a close. The mid-tempo hypnotic throb of Dissolution is complemented by singer Atashi Tada's lightly processed vocal lines charged with a sense of immediacy and passion, making it the most infectious track on End of Line. Coming in a close second is the dance-infused title track, whose upbeat synthfest reminds one of Ladytron's earlier works and surprises the listener with an explosion of energy after a few downtempo tracks.

Here we have moving, astute dark electro that is also highly accessible and varied; superbly crafted, End of Line is a rich musical journey that makes for immersive listening.
Oct 07 2014