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.
Spirit Youth
The Depreciation Guild Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a brilliant dayglo green
the brightest days i've ever known
were empty and serene
cherry bomb, you loud guitar
exploding out of tune
the chords that rang, the songs we sang
had ended all too soon
the unrelenting tribal drum
of all our teenage years
is distant now, and yet somehow
still ringing in my ears
summarized on spools of tape
the magnet realigns
the spirit youth floats into space
it's making love with time
you are yesterday, you are far away
and i miss you
you are beautiful, you are magical
and i love you
i'll sing along, you're my favorite song
play along, unburied when you want me to
sing along, you're my favorite song
play along, unburied when you want me to be
drag it out
you are yesterday, you are far away
and i miss you
you are beautiful, you are magical
and i love you
for thee, i sing
The Depreciation Guild's song "Spirit Youth" appears to be a reflective piece on the passing of time and the nostalgia that comes along with it, particularly as it relates to one's youth. The first stanza describes a vivid memory of a summer day, but notes that despite the brightness of the day, it was ultimately empty and calm. The second line, "cherry bomb, you loud guitar" could be interpreted as a reference to the loud, explosive energy of youth, contrasting with the quieter and more subdued present. The final lines of the stanza lament the brevity of the good times and the songs that accompanied them.
In the next stanza, the lyrics reflect on the indelible impact of teenagehood and the music that accompanied it. The "unrelenting tribal drum" likely represents the pulse and rhythm of youth culture, and though it seems far away in time, it still reverberates in the singer's memory. The image of the "spools of tape" and "magnet realigns" suggests a longing for a time that has passed, while the emphasis on the "spirit youth" implies that there is something eternal about the essence of youth that will never truly fade away. The final lines seem to be directed towards someone specific - perhaps a former friend or lover - expressing regret at their absence, but also admiration and love.
Overall, "Spirit Youth" is a wistful and evocative meditation on youth, time, and memory, with the music and lyrics working together to create an almost hypnotic sense of longing and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
drag it out in summer slush
We prolong the summer, making it last as long as possible, despite the melting heat that comes with it.
a brilliant dayglo green
The vivid color of nature during summer brings a joyful and energizing sensation.
the brightest days i've ever known were empty and serene
The most memorable days in my life were not necessarily filled with any significant event or excitement, but rather characterized by the peaceful setting and nothingness around me.
cherry bomb, you loud guitar exploding out of tune
The jarring, discordant sound of the guitar represents our youthful enthusiasm, bursting with energy and emotion, but perhaps not always perfectly polished or well-executed.
the chords that rang, the songs we sang had ended all too soon
The music we made in our youth captured the essence of our spirit and connected us with the world around us, but like all good things, it was fleeting and ended too soon.
the unrelenting tribal drum of all our teenage years is distant now, and yet somehow still ringing in my ears
The beat of the drum that guided us through our teenage years has faded into the background, but its echoes continue to resonate within us and remind us of who we once were.
summarized on spools of tape the magnet realigns
Our past experiences and memories are recorded and stored away, waiting to be revisited and remembered when we need them most.
the spirit youth floats into space it's making love with time
The essence of our youth and our connection to the world around us transcends time and space, and continues to evolve and grow as we do.
you are yesterday, you are far away and i miss you / you are beautiful, you are magical and i love you
The memories of our youth and the people we once were are distant, but they remain a cherished part of who we are and continue to inspire and motivate us.
i'll sing along, you're my favorite song / play along, unburied when you want me to / sing along, you're my favorite song / play along, unburied when you want me to be
Our past experiences and memories are like a favorite song that we can always revisit and enjoy, and although they may be buried beneath the surface, we can bring them back to life whenever we choose.
for thee, i sing
This song is a tribute to the spirit of youth and a celebration of the memories that continue to inspire us.
Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.