Black Dice at the Dome

Black Dice at the Dome

13 May, 2009
by: Lianne

Some sort of hand signal from Eric Copeland and they dim the lights and cast us in shadow just as a terrific blaze of searing noise signals the beginning of Black Dice's set. I actually hover the palms of my hands near my ears for a few seconds – notions of deafness and squalls of horrific pain flashing through my head – but quickly draw them away because it feels worth it to experience them just so.

Black Dice are a band who I have heard in various degrees over the last four years, but weaving in and out of stuff I actually listen to. A track here and there operated as a turbulent snatching of my senses; the Miles of Smiles EP; a bizarre slow-build of minimalist mind-whirling noise and obscured marching band mania that suited evenings spent drawing on your stomach with your friends all around. So, as far as familiarity goes, I guess you could say I am only half a fan. My knowledge is way-out sketchy and there's whole records I've not heard.

Not knowing what to expect, I'm hoping for something full-force, hectic and unbridled, which feels like a natural climax after the faintly schizophrenic but centrally pinpointed hazy drone of the three distinct supports – Ducktails, Experimental Dental School and Astral Social Club.

The initially invisible on-stage Ducktails (Matthew Mondanile) give layered up percussive, shivering guitar reverberations, repetitive vocal soars and siren-inspired flashes of noise over a softly twisting, chilled backdrop. I sit on an iron-back chair with my knees by my chin and feel hummingly soporific, toying with terms like 'inoffensive' and 'faintly likeable'.

Then come Experimental Dental School with their constantly changing tempos and attempts at making good an ambitious blend of no wave, garage punk, math rock, post-hardcore and probably a bunch of other stuff that bypasses my senses. I feel next to nothing; the flimsy, almost twee vocals marking a slight distaste every time they strike out with a furious thrusting riff and banging drum freakout.

For Neil Campbell and his Astral Social Club project there is probably a readiness to oblige. Mr Campbell has a face full of cheeky promise and serious effort that you want to get on board with and the mental and otherworldly soundscape he and his bandmates create feels  bizarrely settling. Rising shrieks of genuine eeriness foresee a sort of trance-y thing that is all pounding kick-drum and charming, lunatic movements. It doesn't set my heart racing but it does make me feel pretty good and set my pulse up right and proper for Black Dice.

Black Dice, then. It's fitting that I instantly fall for Black Dice's immediacy. All that sudden bursting noise fading and arcing up into almost-melodies and fuzzes of well-orchestrated chaos actually makes me tingle.

That so many people are dancing is, on some level, unbelievable – Black Dice are essentially a noise band with a half heart full of drone. But their sound is utterly intuitive: it has a tribal energy that sounds at times like a roaring sea of pummelling feet – a frenzy of  squalling guitar, teasing volume, that static swell and some frenetic, almost chant-like vocal soars.

I can't do the maths, but maybe you can see how that blinding assault on your senses could feel so good.

Find out about more stuff that's going on at The Boston Arms elsewhere on the site. Upset the Rhythm also put regular gigs on at the Scala and Barden's Boudoir. Go to some, we frickin' love these guys.

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Lianne