motW had a consistent core membership which consisted of Jason Byron, Greg Massi, and Toby Driver. Throughout motW's career, they saw a sort of "revolving door" of members and session musicians as they were needed. In this regard, it may be more accurate to think of motW as a project rather than a typical band, akin to Chuck Schuldiner's influential death metal project/band, Death.
motW's music, lyrics, and atmosphere dealt predominantly with the subject of astral projection. The band tried to find music rather than compose it. This was attempted through practicing astral projection and lucid dreams, from which the band were purportedly able to "bring back" pre-existing music from the astral plane. This idea is similar to the common dogmatic notion that "all good things come from God", but with a new-age spin.
In late 2001, motW began working on a fourth studio album. During this time, the band lost longtime members, changed labels, and ultimately renamed themselves to Kayo Dot. This fourth motW album was released in 2003 as Kayo Dot's Choirs of the Eye.
Bath and Leaving Your Body Map were re-issued by Dark Symphonies in 2006 and the label has recently announced plans to re-release My Fruit PsychoBells...A Seed Combustible in September 2007.
On July 27, 2008, Toby Driver released a statement in his blog which confirms that a new studio album will be recorded starting February, 2009. The album, entitled Part the Second, was released in May 2009 on the band's website. The record was entirely fan-funded, and people who contributed to the funding of the record are listed on their website. A double-LP edition pressed at 45rpm was issued in November 2010 thanks to fan donations.
In 2012, the bands whole discography was re-released on CD through Blood Music, including The Secret Song single and the first CD release of Part the Second.
Another Excerpt: Keep Light Near You Even When Dying
maudlin of the Well Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silence filled each sphere that from my lips escaped
And ceas'd but for a breath
Before rising to the surface and waves.
Like fireflies, the scancakes flicker′d about be
Candles lit to breach the darkness of this frigid hall.
The lyrics of the song Another Excerpt: Keep Light Near You Even When Dying, by maudlin of the Well, are vivid in description, with imagery of darkness and light, of falling and rising, and of the struggle to keep hope alive even in the face of death. The opening lines, "Like a stone I fell, and was engulf'd in winter darkness", paint a picture of helplessness and isolation, with the darkness representing the overwhelming feeling of despair that can come with facing mortality. The following lines suggest a struggle to find one's voice, to break through the silence and to bring light and hope to the darkness.
The lines "Like fireflies, the scancakes flicker'd about me/Candles lit to breach the darkness of this frigid hall" suggest a flicker of hope, a momentary reprieve from the darkness. The image of fireflies, which are often seen as symbols of hope and renewal, combined with the candles, which represent light and warmth, create a sense of comfort and solace in what might otherwise feel like a cold and lonely space. The lyrics as a whole offer a message of resilience and perseverance, urging the listener to keep light and hope close even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a stone I fell, and was engulf'd in winter darkness
I experienced a sudden fall and was surrounded by despair, darkness and hopelessness
Silence filled each sphere that from my lips escaped
When I tried to speak, the silence was unbearable and seemed to fill every nook and cranny
And ceas'd but for a breath
Words only managed to surface for a moment, before silence consumed my thoughts again
Before rising to the surface and waves.
Only to resurface for another brief moment, like a wave that rises and crashes into the shore
Like fireflies, the scancakes flicker'd about be
In the midst of the darkness, small glimmers of hope appeared, like fireflies flickering in the night
Candles lit to breach the darkness of this frigid hall.
The candles were lit to bring warmth and light to the cold, dark and bleak surroundings
Writer(s): Toby Driver
Contributed by Hunter P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.