Divide and Dissolve: Systemic

Arguably, the vanguard of message music can be found through the portals of hardcore and hip-hop. However, since their 2017 debut LP Basic, Melbourne-based noise duo, Divide and Dissolve (Takiaya Reed – guitarist/ synths/ saxophone; Sylvie Nehill – drums), have followed the path created by Godspeed You! Black Emperor whereby the message is shaped solely through sound.

Through doom-laden percussion, motion-sickness-like build-ups and buzz-saw guitars, Divide and Dissolve’s mission statement remains unwavering: the destruction of white supremacy, decolonization, and liberation from all oppressive structures.

Never room for nuance or political wiggle room, Reed’s message is steadfast, and for those who have seen Divide and Dissolve’s charge into the maelstrom that is their searing live performance, there’s a conceivable notion that one wouldn’t be what it is without the other; both message and sound coexisting in a bid to override each other with frightening tension.

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Reconvening with the producer of Gas Lit, Ruban Neilson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), Systemic is equally as heavy, but the results are slightly different. Rather than the jarring walls of sound which dominated its predecessor, Systemic washes over in hypnotic ways, and whilst remaining in a similar stratum to fellow noise agitators, Water Damage, Divide and Dissolve continues to deliver a sound with a strident urgency their message commands.  

The march beings with Want. A scrambled, paranoid noisescape that pushes in a bid to pierce through the wall that leads to a better world. Once again, Reed’s saxophone drifts in and out of Systemic like a wicked spirit, and it arrives firstly on Blood Quantum. A track which quickly descends with a barrelling drone and dirge-riddled percussion that sees Divide and Dissolve delicately shift towards scorched terrains. Think Earth on anabolics.

Like thick streams of tar hurled up from the abyss, Derail and Simulacra sees Divide and Dissolve reach the ultimate core. That point where sound and message collide head-on, exploding with a howling torrent of noise so pure, you wonder whether they can ever top this moment again.

That’s not to say the remainder of Systemic suffers from the majesty of Derail and Simulacra. Indignation runs close to Blood Quantum, but instead of leaning into the bone-dry terrains of Earth, Divide and Dissolve channel their inner Sunn O))), albeit at a faster speed.

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The furious roar of Omnipotent sees Divide and Dissolve part with one final blast, paving the way for closing cut, Desire. Rising above the burden of hope with a defiant saxophone-led arrangement, Divide and Dissolve haven’t sound so hopeful as they do here, stirring up the embers of optimism purely through their art.

It confirms Reed is a leader, her messages poignant and fearless. Both must have qualities in all prominent leaders, and in a world where there are so few, through the Divide and Dissolve vessel, Reed clearly demonstrates that there is still immense power through artistic expression.

Such as the beauty of wordless composition, each of us may arrive at our own conclusion, but even as futile as the world does seem at times, on the back of Systemic there is a strong urge to simply follow the leader.

Systemic is out via Invada Records. Purchase from Bandcamp.