dälek's music is dark, noisy and atmospheric, equally inspired by industrial music like Einstürzende Neubauten, the layered noise of My Bloody Valentine and the dense sound collages of Public Enemy. Their sound is often constructed through sampling and a musical base atypical of most hip-hop, making it difficult for people to classify their sound. They have been described as trip hop, glitch-hop, and metal-shoegaze-hip-hop, as well as criticized for their broad range of sound.
MC dälek described the group's music to the Chicago Sun-Times:
“It's purely hiphop, in the purest sense. If you listen to what hiphop has historically been, it was all about digging in different crates and finding different sounds, and finding different influences to create. If Afrika Bambaataa wasn't influenced by Kraftwerk, we wouldn't have 'Planet Rock'. So, in that sense, what we do is strictly hiphop.”
“If there is a difference, it's that the palette of sounds we work with is more varied than what has been called hiphop in the last 10 years. Somehow, as hiphop grew, it's been put into this box. I think it's funny when people are like "That's not hiphop. It's this and this and this." You can try to rationalize it as whatever you want to rationalize it as."
Studio albums:
• Negro Necro Nekros (1998)
• From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots (2002)
• Absence (2004)
• Abandoned Language (2007)
• Gutter Tactics (2009)
• Untitled (2010)
• Asphalt for Eden (2016)
• Endangered Philosophies (2017)
• Precipice (2022)
Collaborations, EPs and compilations:
• Megaton / Classic Homicide (2000) Split collaboration with Techno Animal.
• Ruin It (2002) In collaboration with Kid 606.
• Dälek vs. Velma (2002) Split collaboration with Velma.
• Derbe Respect, Alder (2004) In collaboration with Faust.
• Streets All Amped (2006)
• My Education vs. Dälek (2007) In collaboration with My Education.
• Deadverse Massive Vol. 1 (2007) Rarities 1999-2006.
• Griots and Gods - Les Eurockeennes Festival Belfort (2010) Live collaboration with The Young Gods.
Isolated Stare
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt that isolated stare from a million pairs of eyes
Burnt this feeling into retina used as rhythmic device
Devise an ill supply unrefined imagery
Can express captured hatred quite vividly
Won't resort to use of single simile
(Your) actions simply savage to a god's symmetry
You lack civility
While we gave the gift of cities
My people's architects
Your actions parasitic
When it comes to artforms get it straight son we live it
If this was '85 i'd be telling you yall bit it
i'll play eternal cynic
The tongues i speak intrinsic
Linguistics lodged in larynx made the words you spit transparent
Tales known to Two divided lives collide at Varick
Reformed in form of lyrics
A page of hieroglyphics
Marks mathematics of a people's true existence
When force exceeds resistance
It's our core that loses vision.
2.
Restored glory just to be reduced to rubble
Dismantled culture's last gasp is never subtle
Common psyche troubled
Infants drown in puddles
Shallow answers sabotage attempts at weak rebuttal
You'd miss my essence even if you wrote this verse verbatim
Deranged sense of rhythm gives this griot endless patience
Obtained ancient manuscript said to hold salvation
It read "your quest for fairy tales will lead to more frustration."
Formulated thought now condensed to pure equation
arithmetic of breath coincides with vicious nature.
The song "Isolated Stare" by dälek is a commentary on the societal and cultural tensions that exist between different groups of people. The lyrics speak to the feeling of being ostracized or excluded from society, with the singer feeling the "isolated stare" of others looking down on them. The use of the metaphor of burning this feeling into the retina as a rhythmic device emphasizes the intensity of this feeling and the lasting impact it has on the individual.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of cultural superiority, with one group believing themselves to be architects and creators while seeing others as parasitic. The use of language and linguistics is highlighted as a tool for expression and power, as the singer asserts that the words they speak are intrinsic to their being and give them a voice in society. The song also speaks to the struggle for cultural preservation and the danger that comes with losing one's cultural identity, with the dismantling of cultures being described as never subtle and resulting in a troubled common psyche.
Overall, "Isolated Stare" is a powerful commentary on the complexity and tension that exist within societies, as well as the importance of language and cultural preservation.
Line by Line Meaning
I felt that isolated stare from a million pairs of eyes
I sensed the feeling of being alone and watched by many people
Burnt this feeling into retina used as rhythmic device
The emotion was internalized and used as inspiration for artistic expression
Devise an ill supply unrefined imagery
Creating rough, raw images to convey captured hatred
Can express captured hatred quite vividly
Able to convey deep animosity with clarity
Won't resort to use of single simile
Refusing to rely on an overused literary technique
(Your) actions simply savage to a god's symmetry
Your behavior is brutal and goes against divine order
You lack civility
You don't have polite or courteous behavior
descend from men of caves
Your ancestors were primitive and uncivilized
While we gave the gift of cities
My people contributed to the creation of urban areas
My people's architects
My culture's builders and designers
Your actions parasitic
Your behavior is like a parasite, draining resources from others
When it comes to artforms get it straight son we live it
Regarding artistic expression, we are fully immersed in it
If this was '85 i'd be telling you yall bit it
If we were in the past, I'd say you copied our style
i'll play eternal cynic
I will always be skeptical and critical
The tongues i speak intrinsic
The languages I use are inherent to my culture
Linguistics lodged in larynx made the words you spit transparent
Speech patterns reveal your true intentions and beliefs
Tales known to Two divided lives collide at Varick
Stories of two separate worlds come together at a certain point
Reformed in form of lyrics
Transformed into artistic expression through singing and writing
A page of hieroglyphics
Symbols and pictures representing meaning
Marks mathematics of a people's true existence
The art depicts the reality of my culture
When force exceeds resistance
When aggression overpowers and oppresses
It's our core that loses vision.
Our culture suffers when we are oppressed and suppressed
Restored glory just to be reduced to rubble
Some accomplishments are destroyed after being rebuilt
Dismantled culture's last gasp is never subtle
The destruction of a culture is often brutal and violent
Common psyche troubled
The collective mentality is distressed and unsettled
Infants drown in puddles
Children die due to lack of resources and care
Shallow answers sabotage attempts at weak rebuttal
Superficial responses undermine weak arguments
You'd miss my essence even if you wrote this verse verbatim
Understanding the true essence of my culture is difficult even with direct explanation
Deranged sense of rhythm gives this griot endless patience
The unconventional beat inspires the storyteller to continue sharing
Obtained ancient manuscript said to hold salvation
Acquired an old document believed to have the answers to salvation
It read "your quest for fairy tales will lead to more frustration."
The document advised against seeking unrealistic solutions
Formulated thought now condensed to pure equation
Ideas have been refined and simplified to basic formula
arithmetic of breath coincides with vicious nature.
Function of breathing corresponds with the harshness of reality.
Contributed by Adam Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
teensonacid
what i would give to see this live
CPT Snazzypants
F'n love Dalek. Classical Homicide is still my fav.
Ghost Tropic
SICK TRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Undogmatic
@ITZBASSMAN actually if you search around, you'll find plenty of metalheads who like Dälek.
7
@shabooba85 i duuno, just seemed od a hiphop group for a metal group, they didnt exactly please most of the crowd though lol
7
Im still wondering? Why did they open for tool!
Mad Man Productions
The name of that song is "Isolated Stare" not State, just fyi
Stiv One The FLAVORS
hey there's Josh!
Quirin Fürgut
@ITZBASSMAN why not?