- After a strong opening from A5, Russian label Udacha have handed over to Dices, a similarly mysterious producer, for their second record. It's not quite as jumbled as A5's Udacha 1, but it's just as classy. At times, Dices' lead melodies seem more like background ambience—in a good way—than anything else. In "Confuse," noodling piano and double bass frolic in the distance, while dub-like chords mingle politely with wailing vocals in the foreground. Even after several listens, it's unlikely you'll find yourself humming the tune. Yet its enveloping atmosphere and resolute rhythm are catchy as hell, and more than a bit reminiscent of Bruno Pronsato's work.
The same rules apply to the other three tracks too, even if they sound completely different. A large part of this can be attributed to Dices' ear for detail. In "Wooden Alien," for example, the subtle use of delay is superb, each clap overlapping its neighbours in irregular yet deliberate patterns. Around this, gentle woodland ambience swirls, bird calls and woody drums later giving way to meandering organ. But, if we're talking detail, "Evening Clouds" is the record's standout. Its drum programming is stunning. Even if its plucky guitar and soaring synths were subtracted and just the rhythm left behind, the cut would probably be listenable. The B1, "Travel Bug," takes the straightest route, but, like its three siblings, its tootling organ and pliable bass have that special organic quality—some analogue dirt or something—which makes Udacha 2 stand out so boldly from the pack.
Tracklist A1 Confuse
A2 Wooden Alien
B1 Travel Bug feat. Nevsky
B2 Evening Clouds