Originally a vehicle of songwriter / producer Kurt Feldman, the band's first recorded output was Nautilus, an EP made available for free download through New York netlabel 8bitpeoples in 2006. After recruiting Akira Hashizume as second guitarist, the group went on to record their first LP, In Her Gentle Jaws, which was released as a free download from their website in December of 2007. This album was self-engineered in New York and mixed by Joshua Eustis (Telefon Tel Aviv, Sons Of Magdalene) in Chicago, Illinois. Hashizume left the band in 2007 and was replaced by guitarist Christoph Hochheim. Anton Hochheim joined the band in 2008 as drummer.
In 2009, the trio signed to Kanine Records who released the remainder of their recorded work: two singles, Dream About Me (June 2009) and Blue Lily (September 2010) as well as their second full-length album, Spirit Youth (May 2010) which was also engineered, mixed and produced by Joshua Eustis. A limited edition vinyl reissue of the now deleted In Her Gentle Jaws album was released in 2009 as well. Depreciation Guild's second and final album, Spirit Youth, aimed to broaden the group's sonic palette, emphasizing pop hooks over gimmick and adding layers of live instrumentation to their already lush sound. To accommodate this, Raphael Radna joined the band on live bass guitar and keyboard.
After touring extensively in Europe, the United States and Japan in 2009 and 2010, the band amicably split to pursue other musical endeavors.
In August of 2010, the band released an original iPhone puzzle game called TileWild as a collaboration between Kurt Feldman and programmer Hayden Cacace, which featured three new compositions written for the game. While the band is currently defunct, Depreciation Guild, Inc. continues to develop games for the iPhone OS.
On August 3, 2013, The Depreciation Guild's original line-up of Kurt Feldman and Akira Hashizume reunited for a one-night show at the Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, where the duo played In Her Gentle Jaws in its entirety. There are currently no plans for additional shows or a new record.
Currently, Kurt writes and produces music for his synthpop project Ice Choir. He has also played drums in The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, and has done production work for bands like Anamanaguchi and Roman à Clef. Christoph is a touring guitarist for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and has his own project, Ablebody; Anton is also a touring member of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Ablebody, and has also played drums in the Brooklyn-based experimental rock band Dinowalrus. Raphael is currently a member of Ice Choir, in which he plays synthesizer.
Darklooming
The Depreciation Guild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you could follow me around
and you'd promise me the shadows
because the sun is not allowed
you could be my cloud
looming over me, so proud
and you'd keep me from my sleeping
you're raining on everything
stop ruining everything
and i wish you didn't need me so much, baby
you could be my cloud
you could bring me to the ground
and you'd knock down all the houses
that were built since you left town
you could be my cloud
another bad night on the town
that's assuming, the dark is looming
let the misery enshroud me
you're raining on everything
stop ruining everything
and i wish you didn't need me so much, baby
and i wish you didnt need me so much, baby
and i wish you didn't need me so much
have you cast away the things that once adored you?
have you cast away the things that once adored you?
(so i'll see you around)
The Depreciation Guild's song "Darklooming" is a melancholic piece about the toxicity and suffocation of a clingy relationship. The singer is addressing their partner, whom they propose could be their "cloud," a metaphor for a force that is constantly present and obstructive. The partner is described as "looming" and "proud," indicating that they are overbearing and unwilling to let go. The chorus laments the fact that the partner is raining on everything and ruining everything. The singer wishes that their partner didn't need them so much and wonders if they have abandoned the things that once made them happy.
The second verse describes the partner's destructive nature. They are likened to a storm that destroys everything in its path and knocks down houses. The phrase "another bad night on the town" suggests that the relationship is unhealthy and filled with tension. The singer seems resigned to their fate, admitting that the dark is looming and they are engulfed in misery. The song ends on an ambiguous note, with the line "so i'll see you around," suggesting that the relationship may continue despite its inherent problems.
Overall, "Darklooming" is a poignant commentary on the fragility of relationships and the dangers of becoming too dependent on one another. The clouds that the singer wishes their partner could be, providing a comforting presence and offering protection from the sun and the rain, instead become a symbol of suffocation and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
you could be my cloud
You have the potential to hover over me like a cloud
you could follow me around
You can trail me wherever I go
and you'd promise me the shadows
You vow to provide me with the darkness because the brightness of the sun is restricted
because the sun is not allowed
The appearance of the sun is prohibited
looming over me, so proud
You make your presence felt by brooding over me with immense pride
and you'd keep me from my sleeping
You deprive me of my sleep and rest
because the thunder is so loud
The deafening noise of the thunder makes it impossible for me to sleep
stop ruining everything
End your actions that are causing destruction
and i wish you didn't need me so much, baby
I desire for you to be less dependent on me
you could bring me to the ground
You are so powerful that you could make me descend from a great height
and you'd knock down all the houses
You have the strength to demolish all the homes that were constructed in your absence
that were built since you left town
The structures that have been raised while you were away
another bad night on the town
One more unfortunate evening in the city
that's assuming, the dark is looming
That being said, only if the shadow of darkness is near
let the misery enshroud me
Allow me to be wrapped in sorrow
and i wish you didn't need me so much, baby
I hope you didn't have to rely on me so heavily
and i wish you didnt need me so much, baby
I desire for you to be more independent
and i wish you didn't need me so much
I wish you could do without my fortification as constantly
have you cast away the things that once adored you?
Have you discarded the things that used to bring you happiness?
so i'll see you around
So we'll encounter each other again
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.