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.
All The Pain in All the Wide World
Kayo Dot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes one look younger
Neon lies
We sit we drink we pretend
We're something that we're not
Jumble human bones with
Unknown
Trickle under grate outside
Almost sounding lovely
All the pain in
All the wide world
Couldn't fill even a fraction
Of the South Pole-Aitken basin
But it all fits in shadow pocket
Like a knife before it
Sticks in neck
Potential under icy moon
Scream then silence in the gloom
Scream then silence splattered room
That was then, this was soon
But you're too busy talking
And I wasn't even listening
Hand in shadow pocket
Pulse is quickening
The opening lines "Dim light in the bar, makes one look younger, neon lies" immediately set a mood for the song - one of disillusionment, false appearances and concealed truths. The characters in the song are drinking alone in a bar, pretending to be something they're not, maybe to feel better about themselves or to forget their pains. The imagery of "jumble human bones with water running over them" invokes a sense of morbid beauty, where even the unpleasant can be transformed into something almost pleasant. The lines "All the pain in all the wide world couldn't fill even a fraction of the South Pole-Aitken basin but it all fits in shadow pocket like a knife before it sticks in neck" highlights the immense amount of pain and suffering that exists in the world, but at the same time, how we all carry it inside us, in the shadows of our hearts, waiting to pierce us like a knife. The song's climax comes with the lines "But you're too busy talking, and I wasn't even listening, hand in shadow pocket, pulse is quickening," where one of the characters seems to be overcome by their inner turmoil, as the others continue to ignore their pain and talk about trivialities.
The song can be interpreted in many ways - as a commentary on societal pressures, the futility of human existence, or the inevitability of pain and suffering. The use of vivid and often contradictory imagery, such as "neon lies" and "jumble human bones with water running over them," adds to this sense of duality and ambiguity. The song also has a distinct musicality to it, with its haunting vocals, ethereal guitar riffs, and haunting refrain, "All the pain in all the wide world." It captures a mood and a feeling that is hard to define, but one that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Dim light in the bar
Makes one look younger
Neon lies
The dim lighting in the bar creates an illusion of youthfulness to people. However, this is just an empty promise as the bright neon light exposes the reality.
We sit we drink we pretend
We're something that we're not
Sitting and drinking in the bar, pretending to be someone you're not.
Jumble human bones with
Water running over them
Unknown
Trickle under grate outside
Almost sounding lovely
The sound of water flowing over jumbled human bones is terrifying. Yet, the sound it makes trickling under the grate outside is almost soothing.
All the pain in
All the wide world
Couldn't fill even a fraction
Of the South Pole-Aitken basin
But it all fits in shadow pocket
Like a knife before it
Sticks in neck
The pain of the world is vast, yet it can all be contained in a small shadow pocket like a knife before it plunges into someone's neck.
Potential under icy moon
Scream then silence in the gloom
Scream then silence splattered room
That was then, this was soon
But you're too busy talking
And I wasn't even listening
Hand in shadow pocket
Pulse is quickening
The potential for violence is present under the icy moon. Screams and silence fill the gloomy room where something violent must have happened. But the artist was not paying attention, busy with talking while someone else's hand is in their shadow pocket, causing their pulse to quicken.
Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mark lousy
you guys have always been changing and progressing from my highschool years and through my adulthood, thank you for that.
Brady Motschenbacher
this is so cool. I really love the album art too.
Tim2049
This is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life. Holy shit..
Toby, you are a genius. Truly..
lddevo88
This has slowly and very unexpectedly become my favourite track of the album. I don't know why, it just grabs me every time.
Benjamin Deadmoon
Same.
Tiberius Caesar
Love this song, it has an 80s feel that enjoy a lot.
zigotina
absolutely fantastic
Juan Borjas
Even though I consider this the weakest track of the record it still a great song, I don't think Toby Driver has ever written a bad song. It has grown on me on multiple listens. It has a very rich combination of different timbres that give it an interesting atmosphere.
Roy B
most inspirational act i've ever heard
Matt Struve
why would anyone downvote this lol