Roll The Dice: In Dust (Leaf)

This is one of those albums that, two minutes into the first track, i knew i was onto something special. It begins with a low creaking noise interspersed with occasional industrial gongs,   then moves into a synth drone before slowly twisting into a throbbing  beating  heart and then.....it switches to an amazingly focussed piece of angular electronic beauty that proceeds to move between techno, dub and ambience. And that's just the first track. The album moves through an increasingly eclectic range of styles and moods - but is always utterly spot on in judging the correct twists and turns required next. A piano reoccurs time and again and this lends the whole thing a classical edge that takes it far above the kraut-synth-kosmiche-new disco netherworld inhabited by a lot of similar artists. I've played this album  more often than any other in the last month and it still surprises me each time i give it a spin. The lushness of the production enhances every sound and each note is completely necessary. I have no idea how long this took to put together but it sounds like a life's work. I recommend this album to all and sundry, you will not be disappointed. I promise.