Ice on the Dune
by Empire of the Sun
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Consequence
    Jun 20, 2013
    60
    It’s neither better nor worse than Dream, but for all that talk of “pushing through four dimensions” (“Surround Sound”), the album remains planted in its comfort zone.
  2. The Guardian
    Jun 20, 2013
    60
    Ice on the Dune is a pretty impressive pop album. But it's hard not to wonder what might have been had just a bit of the fanciful imagination that goes into the visual side of Empire of the Sun been allowed to seep in.
  3. musicOMH.com
    Jun 19, 2013
    60
    The songs and melodies may be brighter, but there is a nagging sense throughout that something special has been lost somewhere in the process.
  5. Mojo
    Jun 17, 2013
    60
    While it's debatable whether Empire Of The Sun deliver on a stated aim to make music that's "transcendental," you'll have a lot of fun hearing them try. [Jul 2013, p.85]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The Independent (UK)
    Jun 14, 2013
    60
    On track after track, the falsetto vocals and surging electropop pulses ultimately congeal into too saccharine a sonic experience, an artificially sweetened aural marshmallow.
  7. Clash Music
    Jun 13, 2013
    60
    Ice On The Dune is patchy, and shows little progression from 2008 debut, ‘Walking On A Dream’.
  8. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 13, 2013
    60
    Perhaps with a little more nuance they can exploit the potential of their partnership to be one of the most intriguing electro-pop duos around--but on Ice on the Dune that potential remains unrealised.
  9. Pitchfork
    Jun 21, 2013
    56
    Their stuff floats off, and the synths carry the whiff not of a beach breeze but of a department-store escalator.
  10. Rolling Stone
    Jul 2, 2013
    50
    The vintage-Daft Punk cheese platter "Celebrate" and album-ending­ Bowie joke "Keep a Watch" are foamy fun, but too often Ice on the Dune just feels like a lobotomy on the dance floor.
  11. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jun 17, 2013
    40
    The problem is, when you project a futuristic, magical and otherworldly image, you’d better have the sounds to match. And unfortunately, Ice On The Dune is a four-to-the-floor electro-pop album that has literally nothing to do with the cheesy fable invented to go with it.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50
  1. Crespo
    May 19, 2015
    10
    The Electronic duo of Empire of the Sun just delivered a masterpiece of an album where every song is fun and catchy. 'Awakening' is probablyThe Electronic duo of Empire of the Sun just delivered a masterpiece of an album where every song is fun and catchy. 'Awakening' is probably the best song on the album and it was a bit of a surprise when the song was not promoted as a single.… Full Review »
  2. MattCody18
    Nov 15, 2013
    9
    Although the album may appear flat upon a first listen, there are songs that overall redeem it. Songs such as DNA, Alive, Awakening, I'll BeAlthough the album may appear flat upon a first listen, there are songs that overall redeem it. Songs such as DNA, Alive, Awakening, I'll Be Around and Celebrate will always have a special place in my heart. I must admit though, upon my first listen, I got bored and fed up fast. When I took a second listen 2 months later, I couldn't stop listening to this album. A very good follow-up to Walking on a Dream.… Full Review »
  3. SmooveOperator
    Jul 8, 2013
    9
    I remember hearing walking on a dream for the first time and being absolutely blown away. After buying the album I was slightly underwhelmedI remember hearing walking on a dream for the first time and being absolutely blown away. After buying the album I was slightly underwhelmed but still really enjoyed a lot of the tracks. This time my expectations were slightly lower but were definitely surpassed. Though there's nothing on here to quite match walking on a dream pretty much every other track is superior to their previous album. Stand out tracks for me are DNA, I'll Be Around and Old Flavours. Overall Brilliant album!… Full Review »
See all user reviews »