Roll the Dice

Roll the Dice are an analogue-electronics duo from Stockholm, Sweden composed of Peter Mannerfelt (who performs live with Fever Ray) and Malcolm Pardon. The pair belong to a post-laptop wave of electronic musicians that have sprouted globally over the past two years, many of whom are chasing warmer timbres, a differentiation of sound and, perhaps most importantly, have a much deeper appreciation for pushing ahead with the roots of the genre in mind, as opposed to just the software. In this respect, Roll the Dice's sophomore effort admirably channels the ghosts of kosmische pioneers such as Cluster and Popol Vuh. But Roll the Dice aren't simply a rehash. Rather, their embrace of analogue textures puts to use the machines' distinct abilities to create auras of drama, and this is the effect (potentially a skill attributable to Pardon's history in film composition) that comes off most potently during In Dust's 11 tracks. This album is an assured and confident effort, beat-less without being ambient and organic without sounding retro.