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.
Aura on an Asylum Wall
Kayo Dot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel strong, this day will never wither!
In sorcery is my most ancient thought
And I thought the sorcerer was right
It creeps behind a dusty mirror
They, in an attic I dreamt of once
Flow through me again, wrathful one
I feel strong! Throw the tapestry o'er the oracles!
Belong to me innocence...
The shears cut cleaner than a child's first sin
I chose the grave in blasphemous
It fell away a hundred times before
But orisons scratched veiled glass
"Though art I," says cast away
And I am in an attic
I feel weak, this night will never bloom!
I am I - now you're mine, my cunting child
The song “Aura on an Asylum Wall” by Kayo Dot is a dreamy, eerie, and haunting track that carries a deeper meaning. The lyrics are cryptic and abstract, leaving the listener with a sense of enigma. The song starts with the words “Almost condescending it looks on from inside, I feel strong, this day will never wither,” suggesting that the singer is facing an internal conflict and feels that they are in control. However, the following lines reveal a shift in the tone, as sorcery becomes the most ancient thought and the sorcerer is thought to be right. The singer may feel confused and doubtful about their thoughts and beliefs, as if something is creeping up on them.
The lyrics discuss the idea of innocence and the desire to possess it. The phrase “Belong to me innocence” may indicate a sense of longing to recapture the purity and innocence of the past, which now seems lost. The following lines suggest a sacrificial act, as the shears cut cleaner than a child’s first sin, and the singer chooses the grave in blasphemous. The song concludes with the words “I feel weak, this night will never bloom! I am I - now you’re mine, my cunting child,” indicating that the singer has lost control and is now consumed by darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Almost condescending it looks on from inside
The view from inside seems superior and judgmental.
I feel strong, this day will never wither!
This day feels empowering and long-lasting.
In sorcery is my most ancient thought
Sorcery has always been a deep train of thought for me.
And I thought the sorcerer was right
I believed the sorcerer's teachings were correct.
It creeps behind a dusty mirror
Something ominous lurks behind a forgotten mirror.
They, in an attic I dreamt of once
Those people I dreamed of being in an attic.
Flow through me again, wrathful one
I want to feel the power of my anger again.
I feel strong! Throw the tapestry o'er the oracles!
The confidence I have is enough to hide the truth from others.
Belong to me innocence...
I want to possess purity.
The shears cut cleaner than a child's first sin
The sharp object cuts with a pristine sharpness.
I chose the grave in blasphemous
I did something sacrilegious to choose my own death.
It fell away a hundred times before
This thing has disappeared many times in the past.
But orisons scratched veiled glass
Whispers scratched at the fogged-over window.
"Though art I," says cast away
"I am who I am," exclaims the rejected one.
And I am in an attic
I am in a cramped and forgotten space.
I feel weak, this night will never bloom!
Tonight feels powerless and will never improve.
I am I - now you're mine, my cunting child
I am in control of you now, my submissive offspring.
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.