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| Black Dice | |
|---|---|
| Name | Black Dice |
| Origin | Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Genres | Experimental rock, noise, electronic, avant-garde |
| Years active | 1997–2017 |
| Labels | DFA Records, Load Records, Neurot Recordings |
| Associated acts | Lightning Bolt, Animal Collective, Black Dice (not linked) |
Black Dice was an American experimental music group formed in Providence, Rhode Island in 1997. Over two decades they moved from hardcore and noise roots through electronic and textural experimentation, releasing influential recordings and performing at venues and festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia. The band became closely associated with underground labels, DIY scenes, and collaborations with artists and collectives from New York City and Providence, Rhode Island.
Black Dice formed in the late 1990s when members converged from local scenes surrounding Brown University and Providence venues. Early shows placed them alongside acts from the Providence noise scene and touring peers such as Lightning Bolt and The Locust. Their initial recordings were released on independent labels including Load Records and Neurot Recordings, aligning them with experimental contemporaries like Sonic Youth-adjacent projects and artists on the DFA Records roster. Relocations and extended tours prompted frequent contact with scenes in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Berlin, shaping a transition from aggressive, guitar-driven material to densely layered electronic work. Significant releases and collaborations during the 2000s coincided with appearances at festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties and the Pitchfork Music Festival, consolidating their profile among avant-garde and indie audiences.
Black Dice's sound evolved from hardcore and noise to rhythmic, sample-based, and electronic textures. Early influences included bands from the Hardcore punk and Noise rock milieus and experimental composers associated with labels like Load Records and Neurot Recordings. As their palette expanded, they incorporated techniques reminiscent of artists on DFA Records and experimental electronic scenes in Berlin and London. Comparisons have been drawn with acts such as Animal Collective, Sun City Girls, and Captain Beefheart for their emphasis on timbre, polyrhythms, and unconventional song structures. Their work also shows affinities with contemporary improvisers and sound artists who have appeared at institutions like MOMA and festivals such as Mutek, linking them to a broader network of experimental practice.
The original lineup coalesced around musicians active in the Providence noise and punk scenes, sharing bills with artists from Load Records and touring partners connected to New York City venues. Over time personnel shifts reflected the band's stylistic changes: members departed to pursue projects in electronic production, visual art, and collaborative ensembles. Subsequent lineups featured participants with histories in groups and collectives associated with DFA Records, Animal Collective-adjacent projects, and other experimental outfits that had performed at venues like The Knitting Factory and festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties. These changes affected instrumentation and live practice, moving from multiple guitarists and a conventional drumkit toward samplers, modular electronics, and percussive processing inspired by artists who had worked with studios in Berlin and Brooklyn.
Black Dice's recorded legacy spans singles, EPs, full-length albums, and limited-edition releases on independent labels. Notable albums were issued by labels including DFA Records, Load Records, and Neurot Recordings, and their releases often featured art collaborations referencing practitioners from the contemporary art world and independent graphic designers linked to galleries in New York City and Los Angeles. Their catalog was circulated through distributors and shops associated with scenes around Brooklyn, Providence, Rhode Island, and London. Key records appeared on compilation bills alongside artists represented by DFA Records and experimental labels that also released work by contemporaries such as Lightning Bolt and Sonic Youth-affiliated projects.
Black Dice built reputation through intensive touring and immersive live performances that emphasized texture and volume. They played small DIY spaces in Providence, Rhode Island and Brooklyn as well as larger festival stages at events like All Tomorrow's Parties, Pitchfork Music Festival, and Mutek. Tours took them across the United States, Europe, and Asia, with stops in cultural centers such as London, Berlin, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Collaborations and shared bills included artists from labels such as Load Records, DFA Records, and Neurot Recordings, and they participated in curated events at venues like The Knitting Factory and art institutions including MOMA PS1.
Critics and scholars have positioned Black Dice within a lineage that connects underground punk, noise rock, and experimental electronic music. Coverage appeared in publications and platforms that also reviewed work by peers on DFA Records, Load Records, and Neurot Recordings, situating the band alongside acts such as Animal Collective, Lightning Bolt, and textural experimentalists who performed at Mutek and All Tomorrow's Parties. Retrospectives emphasize their role in bridging DIY punk networks in Providence, Rhode Island with electronic and art-world audiences in New York City and London. Their influence can be traced through subsequent experimental acts, sound artists, and label curators operating in scenes centered on Brooklyn, Berlin, and Los Angeles.
Category:American experimental musical groups Category:Noise rock groups