On the surface, Lansing-Dreiden seems like another group trying to re-create genre bending music with roots in the ‘60s and ‘80s while passing it off as sophisticated art-rock. While true, it doesn’t even explain the story of this mysterious New York based duo, Lansing-Dreiden, and why they are referred to as a multi-media company.
According to their very minimalist website, the nameless duo focuses on artistic ventures that are “fragmentary—mere stones in a path whose end lies in a space where the very definition of ‘path’ paths.” Basically it’s the distinction that art has no limitations, just obstacles helping to create new avenues (paths).
Musically, Lansing-Dreiden operates by these principles. Their second full length, The Dividing Island, is an exercise of pure eclecticism. It’s a collection of music that is exactly what the title indicates—an exploration of division. It’s a combination of two parts that make a whole, only to be divided again. TDI is music that’s dualistic by nature but contrasted by a blurry complexity of sound that’s completely indistinguishable.
“Dethroning the Optimyth” is a perfect example of this radical concept of division. The song employs double bass and death-metal riffing that merges “disconnected” with dream pop synth-chimes and soothing vocals swimming below. Its utter madness divided by beauty delivered in a psychotic but soothing way.
What Lansing-Dreiden does is blend equal parts of ‘60s experimentalism with ‘80s new wave synth-pop and juxtapose it with psychedelic rock, dream pop and R&B to create music that is nearly impossible to pin down by mere description.
Songs like the spacey “Cement to Stone,” and the R&B infused “One For All” clearly demonstrate L-D’s ability to combine two tremendously varying elements into a cohesive yet separated whole. Either heavy on the psychedelia, “Dividing Island,” or leaning on the hypnotic pop of “A Line You Can Cross,” L-D emphasizes a stark division of guiding principles.
While ‘The Dividing Island’ plays much like their first two releases The Incomplete Triangle and A Sectioned Beam, it’s quite different in results. TDI is less rocking than the former and not as pop as the latter. It can be seen as a blend between the two divided by one that becomes something altogether new.
