Mood Maps

The new release from Italy's excellent electroacoustic experimental band Ossatura led by Elio Martusciello takes the band into new territory, detailed and more luminous, more acoustic, with vibes and clarinet (Michael Thieke) and even a lovely song surprising long-time fans.

Based on the dates of 90% of their output and their self-classification as "cosmic prog", Dice would seem to be a new generation German space rock band, albeit in the mold of veterans like Eloy, Pink Floyd, and even Hawkwind, but in some sense they were almost contemporaries. The group was formed in 1974, with founder and leader Christian Nóvé also citing Jethro Tull and Wigwam as favourites. However, it was not until 1979 that they released their debut album which included Alto Pappert from Kraan on saxophone. Their stock in trade is highly melodic and song oriented space rock, with little of the depressive aspect of some of the earlier groups on which the sound is based. While Dice music is laden with hooks, plenty of time is allocated for solos and jams, allowing for appreciation across the spectrum of fans from symphonic to crossover to neo and psychedelic.