ALBUM REVIEW: Divide and Dissolve - "Basic"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 28/03/2017

Label: Dero Arcade

Divide and Dissolve in full flow is like a huge slab of noise reminiscent of UKlow-end warriors Bismuth and the sadly departed Palehorse.  The band’s distinct racket is simultaneously skeletal and super dense, with most of the tracks consisting of slow-motion pounding drums and an oppressive wall of discordant distortion.  “Basic” is a powerful record in every sense.

“Basic” DD//LP track listing:

1). Black is Beautiful

2). Black Supremacy

3). Black Power

4). Black Resistance

5). Black & Indigenous

6). Black Vengeance

7). Black Love

8). Crimes of the Future

The Review:

It is rare for instrumental bands to have something to say, let alone more to say than most bands with lyrics. Divide and Dissolve are a duo from Melbourne who aim to empower black and indigenous people the world over and dismantle white supremacy via the medium of minimal, crushing doom.

The band’s distinct racket is simultaneously skeletal and super dense. Most of the tracks on “Basic” consist of slow-motion pounding drums and an oppressive wall of discordant distortion. “Black Is Beautiful” is a prime example of Divide and Dissolve in full flow, a huge slab of noise reminiscent of UK low-end warriors Bismuthand the sadly departed Palehorse. The tempo creeps above a crawl on “Black & Indigenous” while “Black Love” introduces some erratic blastbeats into the fray to killer effect.

Divide and Dissolve are at their most captivating when they deviate from their core sound. “Black Power” begins with a lone, haunting saxophone that creates a hypnotic, hazy ambience. This alone is enjoyable enough but when the drums and guitar make their thunderous return the track becomes a glorious collision of heaviness and otherworldly sound. “Black Resistance” finds the band at their most pared-back, the distortion dialled back to create a captivating solo guitar track that sounds like Slinttrapped in a cave.

“Basic” is a powerful record in every sense. Buy it now and help Divide and Dissolve spread their message far and wide.

“Basic” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook