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.
November
The Depreciation Guild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in a frigid trembling leaf
endless gray skies
to the cracks in every street
I blush, a cold rush
as the trees undress for me
the wind disrobes them
and shakes with teeth
november
in the slow fade
in the trail of wasted days
winter's still freeze
to the summer's endless haze
from the snow banks
to the sewers where they drain
peaceful in rest
amongst decay
november
(are you lonely? i am lonely)
november
The Depreciation Guild's "November" is a poignant reflection on the end of autumn and the transition into winter. The lyrics paint vivid images of the desolate landscape that often characterizes this time of year, with "endless gray skies" and "cracks in every street." The mention of the "trees undress[ing]" is a powerful metaphor for the way in which nature strips down to its bare bones in preparation for the colder months. The cold rush and trembling leaf serve to further reinforce the idea of a world in transition, a world that is both beautiful and heartbreaking in its frailty.
As the song progresses, it delves further into the desolation of winter, with the "trail of wasted days" and "winter's still freeze" conveying a sense of stagnation and loneliness. The juxtaposition between the snow banks and the sewers that they drain into is a stark reminder that even in winter, life continues on in all its different forms. This is reinforced by the line "peaceful in rest amongst decay," which suggests that even death provides a sort of solace amidst the barren landscape of winter.
Overall, "November" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the melancholy that often characterizes the end of autumn. The lyrics are evocative and thought-provoking, painting a portrait of a seemingly lifeless world that still manages to hold moments of beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
on a clean page
Starting anew, free from the past and its mark upon the page.
in a frigid trembling leaf
A vulnerable nature, delicate and shivering in the grip of winter.
endless gray skies
A world obscured by a persistent, oppressive monotony.
to the cracks in every street
From the smallest crevices to the widest avenues, all paths are diminished and damaged by an unrelenting season of decay.
I blush, a cold rush
A tingling flush of anticipation in the face of winter's approach, despite the chill down the spine.
as the trees undress for me
An intimate connection with the natural world as the leaves fall and expose the bones of the trees.
the wind disrobes them
Nature itself strips away the embellishments and superficialities of life until only the starkness of simplicity remains.
and shakes with teeth
The earth heaves and quakes in fury at the onslaught of winter's darkness.
november
A time of death and loss, facing the bitter reality of the inevitable passing of all things.
in the slow fade
A gradual and inexorable slipping away, as memories and dreams fade into shadow.
in the trail of wasted days
Days that pile up and drift away like so much debris, leaving nothing but vacancy and emptiness behind.
winter's still freeze
The paralyzing and crushing grip of winter's silence and cold, stifling all life and hope.
to the summer's endless haze
A distant memory of warmth and light, obscured by the unyielding grip of winter's darkness.
from the snow banks
A treacherous and deceptive landscape, where even the most stable and routine elements can be a source of danger and instability.
to the sewers where they drain
Even the refuse and waste of life is smothered by the deadness of winter, sealed away in darkness and filth.
peaceful in rest
Amidst all the destruction and dissolution, there is a sense of tranquility and calm in the finality of death.
amongst decay
A reminder of the cycle of life and death, and the inherent beauty found in the gradual fading away of all things.
november
Repeating the mournful recognition of the autumnal end, the acceptance of loss and the passage of time.
(are you lonely? i am lonely)
The recognition of the isolation and disconnection that stems from the inevitable progress of time and the loss it brings.
Contributed by Christopher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.