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.
Whisper Ineffable
Kayo Dot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been wrinkled and shrunk by hopeless ignorance
I saw it blowing over the old wooden floor - isolated from my body
I picked it up and let it sit on the desk
Pull up the pictures until it opened up again
The velocity of the realm
---
My body with the shape of a blooming flower whole (?)
Became free from all the stray hands
All organs were tumbling around the room
My true visions got let out
Dragging along the wall - full of enjoyment
I can see through the porous sea of birds (?)
----- memory
Unwritten postcards chase off the art of control and lie
Sorrow's on empty (?)
When I released my soul completely
Like then all sensations came out of my body
My feelings seem to begin recovering
From a long, long, long day
I kept on drawing abstract vectors in
One after another
I was helping ----- help me up (?)
The lyrics of Kayo Dot's song Whisper Ineffable describe a journey of self-exploration and liberation. The first stanza compares the singer's heart to a crumpled piece of paper, symbolizing its worn-out state from the consequences of ignorance. The heart is then isolated from the body, emphasizing the singer's detachment from their emotions. However, the singer then picks up the heart and carefully opens it up to reveal its contents. The "velocity of the realm" that the singer experiences can be interpreted as a moment of realization or enlightenment, as they slowly discover their true self.
The second stanza describes the singer's body in imagery of a blooming flower. They find freedom from the negative influences around them as their organs "tumble around the room." Their "true visions" are finally set free and they experience joy as they take in their surroundings. The singer is then able to see through the "porous sea of birds," suggesting that they can now navigate through life's challenges with clarity.
The last stanza hints at the theme of letting go and surrendering control. The "unwritten postcards" represent missed opportunities due to the need for control. The singer acknowledges that letting go of control can bring sorrow, but also that releasing their soul allowed all their feelings and sensations to come flooding back. As they begin to recover, they express themselves through art, drawing "abstract vectors one after another" as a form of healing.
Overall, the song Whisper Ineffable is a poetic exploration of the importance of self-discovery and liberation, and the process of letting go of control to find inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart was like a crumpled piece of paper
My emotional state had been damaged and distorted, much like a piece of paper that has been crumpled and wrinkled over time.
It's been wrinkled and shrunk by hopeless ignorance
The damage to my emotional state had been caused by a sense of ignorance and a lack of understanding.
I saw it blowing over the old wooden floor - isolated from my body
I felt disconnected from my emotions, as if I were simply observing them from a distance.
I picked it up and let it sit on the desk
I made an effort to confront my emotions and deal with them directly.
Pull up the pictures until it opened up again
I revisited memories and experiences to try and gain a greater understanding of my emotional state.
The velocity of the realm
I became more aware of the broader context in which my emotions existed.
My body with the shape of a blooming flower whole (?)
My physical self began to feel more lively and vibrant, much like a flower that is blooming and growing.
Became free from all the stray hands
I felt a sense of liberation from external influences, which had previously caused me harm.
All organs were tumbling around the room
My emotions and thoughts were in a state of flux, tumbling around chaotically within me.
My true visions got let out
I became more in tune with my authentic self and my genuine desires and aspirations.
Dragging along the wall - full of enjoyment
I moved forward with a sense of joy and enthusiasm, even as I navigated challenges along the way.
I can see through the porous sea of birds (?)
I gained a greater clarity of vision, allowing me to see through distractions and focus more intently on my goals.
Unwritten postcards chase off the art of control and lie
I was able to let go of the need to control every aspect of my life and accept the uncertainties and unknowns that come with living.
Sorrow's on empty (?)
My previous feelings of sadness and despair felt as though they were dissipating or becoming less significant.
When I released my soul completely
I allowed myself to fully embrace my emotions, even the painful ones, without holding anything back.
Like then all sensations came out of my body
I felt a profound release of tension and emotion, as if everything pent up within me was being allowed to escape.
My feelings seem to begin recovering
I began to feel more emotionally stable and balanced, as if my healing process had started.
From a long, long, long day
The emotional journey I had gone through felt lengthy and arduous, but ultimately worthwhile.
I kept on drawing abstract vectors in
I continued to explore my emotional experiences and process them through creative expression.
One after another
I worked through my emotions systematically, one by one, until I felt a greater sense of clarity and understanding.
I was helping ----- help me up (?)
I was taking an active role in my own emotional healing, with the help of others or external resources as needed.
Contributed by Layla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.