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.
Swollen Tongue Bums
Dälek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
witnessed the birth of the 1st child in exile
On banks of Nile.
Grew seeds of post destruction
Juveniles lack such instructions
As so-called truths rattle such assumptions
Oneness of polyrythmic shifts into....
Nothing.
Humanity pretends to be humane
Urbanscape fails to sustain.
(Rain falls upon my weary brow.)
(Shrugged shoulders of indifference speak)
(Tao)
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians
Dig them sounds god, lost my way again
Walk through vineyard
concept nonlinear
Spoke, pattern broke ... caused view past millennia
Messiah cry timber,
Marble columns crumble under feet of us sinners.
Felt my eyes stabbed with splinters
In blindness felt contours of unsure terrain
Populus lay slain
I offer malted grain to the unwise sage.
(Strange intrinsic)
(world got me lifted.)
(Skilled drunken mystic)
(felt my earth shifted.)
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians
Suburbanite tikes slumming for trend
Humanity pretends to be humane
Urbanscape fails to sustain.
Inconsistent simple peasants of next week
Chew slow as you weep
There are no grapes left to harvest
Drunkard wash away old thoughts in midst of lazy yawns
Oh how we fear the dawn and the sharp pains which twinge our insides
My night has ended.
Morning amounts to crust caked eyes and regrets
Forgetting what it is we are.
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Acoustic warfare
The lyrics of dälek's song "Swollen Tongue Bums" depict a scene of the artist sitting amongst wise kings Indian-style and witnessing the birth of a child in exile on the banks of the Nile. This scene is juxtaposed with the post-destruction growth of seeds and the lack of instruction given to juveniles. The verse speaks to the idea of assumptions and the oneness of polyrythmic shifts that lead ultimately to nothing. The next few lines of the song talk about suburbanite tikes slumming for trend and the pretense of humanity to be humane. The urbanscape fails to sustain and there is a sense of despair that pervades the song.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs" and speaks to the idea of acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians. The lyrics also contain a reference to Tao, which underscores the idea of balance and harmony of natural forces. The artist is skilled and drunken, and has felt his earth shift as he observes the world's strange intrinsic forces. The song ends with a reflection on the fear of the dawn, the crust caked eyes of morning, and the regret felt for forgetting what it is we are.
Overall, the lyrics of "Swollen Tongue Bums" are a powerful expression of despair about the state of humanity and the world we inhabit. The scene of being amongst wise kings and witnessing a birth is set against a backdrop of destruction, failed sustainability, and the despair of the morning after.
Line by Line Meaning
Sat amongst wise kings Indian-style
I found myself sitting among knowledgeable leaders, cross-legged and humble.
witnessed the birth of the 1st child in exile
I saw the arrival of a newborn while in a place of isolation and banishment.
On banks of Nile.
This occurred in a location near the Nile River.
Grew seeds of post destruction
The aftermath of destruction was inevitable and slowly developing.
Juveniles lack such instructions
Young people do not receive guidance on how to handle these situations.
As so-called truths rattle such assumptions
Misleading statements shake our previous beliefs.
Oneness of polyrythmic shifts into....
The unity of rhythm changes into something else entirely.
Nothing.
It ends in nothingness.
Suburbanite tikes slumming for trend
Young people from suburban areas are pretending to live like those from impoverished urban areas for the sake of a fad.
Humanity pretends to be humane
The human race masquerades as compassionate beings.
Urbanscape fails to sustain.
City life proves to be unsustainable for its inhabitants.
(Rain falls upon my weary brow.)
I am currently burdened and experiencing hardship.
(Shrugged shoulders of indifference speak)
The lack of concern expressed by others is evident and disheartening.
(Tao)
This is a reference to the concept of Taoism, which emphasizes the balance between opposing forces in the universe.
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Weary, homeless individuals suffer from both swollen tongues and lungs full of smoke.
Acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians
This is a commentary on the treatment of Iranian people, who have experienced sonic attacks from their government.
Dig them sounds god, lost my way again
I am drawn to the music, but am feeling lost and uncertain.
Walk through vineyard
I am taking a walk through a grape field.
concept nonlinear
My thoughts do not follow a linear path.
Spoke, pattern broke ... caused view past millennia
Speaking caused a shift in patterns of thought, leading to an understanding of the past millennium.
Messiah cry timber,
A savior figure has fallen, signaling a tragic event.
Marble columns crumble under feet of us sinners.
The weight of our sins cause even the strongest supports to collapse.
Felt my eyes stabbed with splinters
I'm blinded by the harsh truth and clarity of my thoughts.
In blindness felt contours of unsure terrain
Even though I cannot see, I sense the unknown surroundings clearly.
Populus lay slain
People are dead and the land is barren.
I offer malted grain to the unwise sage.
I offer a gift of fermented grains to someone who may not appreciate the wisdom it brings.
(Strange intrinsic)
There is something peculiar or unique about this situation.
(world got me lifted.)
I am lost in my own headspace or intoxicated in some way.
(Skilled drunken mystic)
I possess the knowledge of a mystic, but it is clouded by inebriation.
(felt my earth shifted.)
I felt a significant change within myself or in the world around me.
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Weary, homeless individuals suffer from both swollen tongues and lungs full of smoke.
Acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians
This is a commentary on the treatment of Iranian people, who have experienced sonic attacks from their government.
Suburbanite tikes slumming for trend
Young people from suburban areas are pretending to live like those from impoverished urban areas for the sake of a fad.
Humanity pretends to be humane
The human race masquerades as compassionate beings.
Urbanscape fails to sustain.
City life proves to be unsustainable for its inhabitants.
Inconsistent simple peasants of next week
Uncertain common people of the future are not prepared for what is to come.
Chew slow as you weep
Take your time as you mourn.
There are no grapes left to harvest
The resources have been depleted, and there is nothing left to gain.
Drunkard wash away old thoughts in midst of lazy yawns
Someone who is intoxicated is escaping their old ways of thinking and feeling during moments of laziness.
Oh how we fear the dawn and the sharp pains which twinge our insides
We are afraid of what each new day may bring and the emotional turmoil it may cause.
My night has ended.
The previous chapter of my life has come to a close.
Morning amounts to crust caked eyes and regrets
The new day brings with it only tired eyes and feelings of remorse.
Forgetting what it is we are.
We have lost sight of our true nature and purpose.
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Weary, homeless individuals suffer from both swollen tongues and lungs full of smoke.
Swollen tongue bums with smoke filled lungs
Weary, homeless individuals suffer from both swollen tongues and lungs full of smoke.
Acoustic warfare on masses like Iranians
This is a commentary on the treatment of Iranian people, who have experienced sonic attacks from their government.
Suburbanite tikes slumming for trend
Young people from suburban areas are pretending to live like those from impoverished urban areas for the sake of a fad.
Humanity pretends to be humane
The human race masquerades as compassionate beings.
Urbanscape fails to sustain.
City life proves to be unsustainable for its inhabitants.
Contributed by Grayson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@adambolger3269
Still my favourite Dälek song. Absolute classic.
@hazardousenvironmentspart0540
Why do I see you in the comments on every cool album or song?
@adambolger3269
@@hazardousenvironmentspart0540 I suppose we both just have great taste in music 🤣
@hazardousenvironmentspart0540
@@adambolger3269 facts
@clockworkofmadness
it sends waves through the body at that frequency
@oriaz646
The instrumental give me a strong Silent Hill vibe...
@baerereavsorg
Inconsistent simple peasants of next week
Chew slow as you weep
There are no grapes left to harvest
Drunkard wash away old thoughts in midst of lazy yawns
Oh how we fear the dawn and the sharp pains which twinge our insides
My night has ended
Morning amounts to crust caked eyes and regrets
Forgetting what it is we are
@gregorysanchez1184
Classic!!!
@penguino112
iPhone alarm ass beat