Its lineup is constantly changing, but has consisted of Toby Driver, Ron Varod, Mia Matsumiya, Keith Abrams, Tim Byrnes, David Bodie, Dan Means and Terran Olson.
The music of Kayo Dot can not be accurately described by the limiting contemporary genre nomenclatures. Their songs involve complex instrumentation (composed by singer and frontman Driver), generally without refrain. They are substantially longer than typical rock songs, often ranging from 8 to 15 minutes in length.
Kayo Dot's second album Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue was released in January of 2006.
On May 6 2008, they released their third full-length, Blue Lambency Downward, on Hydra Head Records.
Their fourth album, recorded in June 2009, named Coyote, was released on 20 April 2010 on Hydra Head Records. It was later brought out on vinyl by Taiga Records in November 2010.
Their first EP, Stained Glass, was released in January 2011 by Hydra Head, with very little fanfare. It was later issued on vinyl by Antithetic Records in August 2011, with a "de-mix" of the song on the second side.
Their second EP, Gamma Knife, was self-released digitally via http://kayodot.bandcamp.com in January 2012. Antithetic Records produced a vinyl release in June 2012.
Their fifth album, Hubardo, was released digitally on August 2013, with a vinyl release to follow.
Their sixth album, Coffins on Io, was released on October 15, 2014 through experimental metal label The Flenser. It is a concept album, and the first full-length album from Kayo Dot not to be self-released since 2010's Coyote.
Side projects include Tartar Lamb, Tartar Lamb II, and maudlin of the Well (to which Kayo Dot can be considered a spiritual successor, though the two projects now co-exist). Toby Driver's solo album In the L..L..Library Loft is also a Kayo Dot album in all but name, mainly being released under his name due to the record label's preference.
Amalia's Theme
Kayo Dot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the touchscreen
Delphi it threw us
Up like a stone
In sheep's clothing
Instrumental
The gods that roil
Inside of us
As she whistles her sweet
Oracles
Out by the poolside
Ravings of suicide
As Athens is burning
Plots and visions
Empty amber bottle
Opiate
The sky is blue today
Gone tomorrow
Castalian Spring
Watching clouds
Amalia nods
Shield shroud
Of moonbeams sacramental
Poolside cigarette smoke
That gyres up like prophecies
Glyph in dragging blood
Amalia swayin' through the
Hotel corridors
Shuffling through the
Thousands years
Oracular and wandering
The lyrics of Kayo Dot's song "Amalia's Theme" depict a journey to Delphi, the ancient Greek sanctuary devoted to the god Apollo. The mention of "sheep's clothing" alludes to the story of the Greek mythological figure, Aristaeus, who was believed to have been aided by Apollo when he disguised himself as a shepherd in order to capture Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus. The mention of "instrumental" and "the gods that roil inside of us" could potentially refer to the idea of music and art as a means of accessing the divine. The singer mentions Amalia as she whistles oracles, perhaps referring to the power of prophecy that was often associated with Apollo and his oracle at Delphi. The lyrics then take a darker turn as the singer mentions "ravings of suicide" and "plots and visions" against the backdrop of Athens burning. The imagery of the empty amber bottle and opiate suggest a sense of disillusionment or escape from this chaos. The final stanza mentions Amalia again, swaying through hotel corridors and shuffling through "the thousands years," conjuring an image of someone who is both otherworldly and deeply grounded in the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Amalia's Theme" allude to the complex intertwining of history, mythology, and personal experience. The references to Delphi and Apollo suggest a longing for the divine, while the darker themes of suicide and chaos remind us of the harsh realities of the world. Amalia, who appears as both a prophetic figure and someone who is deeply connected to the past, seems to offer a glimmer of hope amidst this uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Delphi it drew us
We were drawn to Delphi
Over the touchscreen
By way of technology
Delphi it threw us
Delphi tossed us
Up like a stone
Quickly and with force
In sheep's clothing
Disguised, or under the pretense of something else
Instrumental
Without vocals
The gods that roil
The powerful emotions that stir within us
Inside of us
Within our own psyche
As she whistles her sweet
As she sings her beautiful
Oracles
Prophecies or predictions
Out by the poolside
Outside near the swimming pool
Ravings of suicide
Talks or thoughts of ending one's own life
As Athens is burning
As the city of Athens is being destroyed
Plots and visions
Plans and dreams
Empty amber bottle
A used glass container formerly filled with alcohol
Opiate
A narcotic substance used to dull the senses or alleviate pain
The sky is blue today
The sky is a certain color currently
Gone tomorrow
But it won't always be that way
Castalian Spring
A natural spring located in Greece
Watching clouds
Observing the formations in the sky
Amalia nods
Amalia indicates agreement or understanding
Shield shroud
Protective covering or barrier
Of moonbeams sacramental
Formed out of the sacred light of the moon
Poolside cigarette smoke
The fumes produced by a lit tobacco product near the swimming pool
That gyres up like prophecies
That swirls and whirls like predictions
Glyph in dragging blood
Markings left behind in one's blood
Amalia swayin' through the
Amalia moving gracefully through the
Hotel corridors
Passageways within a hotel
Shuffling through the
Moving idly through
Thousands years
Periods of time adding up to millennia
Oracular and wandering
Filled with prophetic and aimless qualities
Contributed by Michael J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.