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.
Digital Solace
The Depreciation Guild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
fill the gaps with things we want
drink, run, waste away
the plastic sea accumulates
and no one knows, where hours go
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
trapped behind the glass
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
digital solace
wolf eye glows at night
bathes me in the pale blue light
and lacerates with saw tooth noise
console; console; a soothing voice
and no one knows, where hours go
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
trapped behind the glass
and no one knows, where hours go
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
digital Solace
wires kiss, we disconnect
the ivy grows around my neck
to compensate the skin not touched
console; console; it's all too much
and no one knows, where hours go
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
trapped behind the glass
and no one knows, where hours go
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
digital solace
The lyrics to The Depreciation Guild's "Digital Solace" create a sense of detachment and isolation. The opening lines "live, love, fall apart, fill the gaps with things we want" suggest a constant cycle of seeking comfort in material possessions and temporary pleasures without truly connecting with others. This idea is further explored in the following lines "drink, run, waste away, the plastic sea accumulates," highlighting the destructive nature of this lifestyle and the way it contributes to a sense of emptiness and disconnection from reality.
The chorus "no one knows, where hours go, trapped behind the glass, digital solace" refers to the way technology and media offer a temporary escape from reality, but ultimately leave us feeling disconnected and lost. The repetition of "out ins and outs of speaker holes" emphasizes the way we can become trapped in our own world of screens, unable to fully engage with the world around us.
The second verse continues this theme of disconnection, using imagery of a "wolf eye glows at night" and "saw tooth noise" to create a sense of unease and detachment. The repetition of "console; console; a soothing voice" adds to the feeling of being lulled into a false sense of security by technology.
The final verse brings the focus back to the physical world, describing a sense of suffocation and the way technology can become a substitute for human connection. "Wires kiss, we disconnect, the ivy grows around my neck, to compensate the skin not touched" suggests a longing for real intimacy and intimacy, but feeling trapped by the false promises of technology.
Overall, "Digital Solace" explores the way technology and materialism can lead to a sense of detachment and isolation, offering a temporary escape but ultimately leaving us feeling lost and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
live, love, fall apart
We move through life trying to find love, but it can be fleeting and often leads to heartbreak.
fill the gaps with things we want
To cope with the emptiness, we try to fill our lives with material possessions and temporary pleasures.
drink, run, waste away
We turn to vices to numb the pain and escape reality, but it only hastens our decline.
the plastic sea accumulates
Our overconsumption and wastefulness creates a literal sea of plastic pollution.
and no one knows, where hours go
Time passes quickly and we're left wondering where it went.
(out ins and outs of speaker holes)
The constant noise and distraction of technology keeps us from truly experiencing the world around us.
trapped behind the glass
Our dependence on screens and digital devices isolates us from genuine human connections and experiences.
digital solace
Technology provides a false sense of comfort and security, but ultimately leaves us feeling more alone and disconnected.
wolf eye glows at night
The blue light emitted by screens disrupts our natural sleep cycles and may have negative health effects.
bathes me in the pale blue light
We spend so much time staring at screens that they become a dominant presence in our lives, even at night.
and lacerates with saw tooth noise
The constant barrage of notifications and sounds from technology can be overwhelming and stressful.
console; console; a soothing voice
Technology tries to make us feel better with comforting messages and notifications, but it ultimately only serves to keep us hooked and distracted.
wires kiss, we disconnect
Our obsession with staying connected through technology actually creates distance and disconnection in our relationships.
the ivy grows around my neck
Metaphorically, our technological dependence can feel like a suffocating, choking vine around our necks.
to compensate the skin not touched
We try to fill the emptiness with digital experiences, but they can never replace the value of real, physical human touch.
and it's all too much
The overwhelming onslaught of information and distraction from technology can be too much to bear.
Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
alex aguirre
This band is so incredibly amazing I need moar of them in my life!! 😍😍😍
HereticVII
This group is soo awesome. Kind of reminds me of Ice Choir.
ValueOfLifeIndex
This band reminds me of a more mature Anamanguchi
The Bass'd God
it feels like happy hardcore rock music :D
Whirling
@brightchin: Your bright chin sucks
brightchin
sucks