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.
3 The Manifold Curiosity
Kayo Dot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I feel I'm courting Saturn.
The Twelve-Eyed Secret gazes through a prism,
Staring into raindrops swirling slow
It lifts its horrible heads
With lidless orbs of limitless vision.
I dream with fluid movements in a lake
The ripples cast from skipping stones
Crouching in a corner, hid behind a box
Full of Worms and stalking shadows.
Magnetism draws me to a cone of space;
I sift still through hours of its plasma,
Biding time until the clocks collapse.
Music shattered my spine on the steps outside;
I cannot move; my liquid breathing
Is sculpted with this binding gel.
But come, my love, and rescue me
From failure.
Cover me with an opium sheet,
Embrace me with gossamer;
Kiss the moonstones from my eyes
And brush the cobwebs from my bones.
It all sings beautifully;
With all your strength believe this.
But I know you can't understand
The song "The Manifold Of Curiosity" by Kayo Dot is a haunting and evocative exploration of pain, alienation, and the search for meaning. The lyrics are filled with surreal and dark imagery, such as the Twelve-Eyed Secret gazing through a prism or the singer dreaming with fluid movements in a lake. The singer expresses a sense of being drawn to the void of space and the crushing weight of Saturn, as if seeking to escape from the unbearable pain of existence.
The singer seems to be struggling with a profound sense of failure or defeat, as if all their efforts and aspirations have come to nothing. They seek the comfort of a lover, someone to cover them with an opium sheet and embrace them with gossamer, as if trying to escape the harsh realities of life. The imagery of cobwebs on their bones and moonstones in their eyes further underscores their state of decay and disconnection.
Overall, the song invites the listener to contemplate the nature of pain, suffering, and the search for meaning in a world that can sometimes feel empty and meaningless.
Line by Line Meaning
It never hurt this much before,
I'm experiencing a new level of pain.
And I feel I'm courting Saturn.
I feel like I'm inviting hardship upon myself.
The Twelve-Eyed Secret gazes through a prism,
A mystical force is observing things through a prism.
Staring into raindrops swirling slow
The force is fixated on the slow swirl of raindrops.
It lifts its horrible heads
The force lifts its heads, which are unsettling.
With lidless orbs of limitless vision.
The force sees without limits or bounds.
I dream with fluid movements in a lake
I dream about moving fluidly in a lake.
The ripples cast from skipping stones
I observe the ripples caused by tossed stones.
We speak below a gushing mind,
We have a conversation beneath an overpowering idea.
Crouching in a corner, hid behind a box
I crouch behind an object in fear.
Full of Worms and stalking shadows.
The object is infested with worms and eerie shadows.
Magnetism draws me to a cone of space;
I'm pulled toward a specific area of space by magnetism.
I sift still through hours of its plasma,
I'm patiently waiting amid a plasma-like substance.
Biding time until the clocks collapse.
I'm waiting for time to stop.
Music shattered my spine on the steps outside;
I was emotionally moved by music outside.
I cannot move; my liquid breathing
The music has left me stunned, my breathing is labored.
Is sculpted with this binding gel.
I feel like I'm stuck in place, unable to move.
But come, my love, and rescue me
I implore someone to come and help me.
From failure.
Help me avoid failure.
Cover me with an opium sheet,
Envelop me with opium.
Embrace me with gossamer;
Hold me tenderly.
Kiss the moonstones from my eyes
Remove the obstructions from my vision.
And brush the cobwebs from my bones.
Eliminate the obstacles hampering my life.
It all sings beautifully;
Everything is harmonious.
With all your strength believe this.
Believe in this truth.
But I know you can't understand
I know you won't comprehend.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Taha Mohammedi
One of the best pieces of music I've ever had the pleasure to listen to, we don't deserve this
peonnyui mcavenport
this is genuinely one of my favorite songs. thank you so much for uploading it.
DanEshed
"What, then, is the Manifold Curiosity?"...Where is this short paragraph from? And thanks! Amazing band...
Liszard Wolf
The Sword Of Satan, I believe
Kai Dare
The best song ever made
Henré Botha
God this is so good
ishi_gho
THANK YOU SO MUCH
SLEEPCYCLES
<3
ishi_gho
Do you have the rest of this concert?
ishi_gho
@Marco Enoddo I understand, definitely will