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.
Birth Pains of Astral Projection
maudlin of the Well Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I recline on moss
But there isn't enough primrose
There are only wishes in
A hidden forest
I can almost see ghosts
As I shiver on icy floorboards
There are only prayers
In a secret house
I was lost by the wayside
Amidst the groans of a tired time
There is nothing for me here
The tales of the flute by the fire
A stroll through a sombre evening
Smoke enticing from their pipes...pipes
And the honourable visions
Of a pulseless mind
Death comes in an instant
If you like
But Amelia may be waking soon
When I sleep, I can't pull myself away,
Yet
But I know there are mansions out there,
Maybe on Saturn or Mars or Mercury or Luna,
Maybe on Saturn or Mars or Mercury or Luna,
...Maybe this is a clue.
I'd never been washed ashore
Or seen the droll night before
My body vanished
I hovered in the concourse
Of the court of thousands
Of yellow asphodel
It hurts remembering the fragance of Heaven.
We lived in the rowans, avoiding mad water
Spoiling our children with tea and mushrooms
Early in the autumn as we slept by the oven
Someone sent a shape who tore the house apart.
Our bond was shattered, I was drawn away
I was caught praying in the shade.
Recently, I went back to my door
And breathed...
It was love filtered through yellow paraffin
We pushed with all our might
For you...
The lyrics of "Birth Pains of Astral Projection" by maudlin of the Well are heavily metaphorical and can be interpreted in multiple ways. The song describes the singer's desire to escape their current reality and explore otherworldly realms. In the first two stanzas, the singer longs to see fairies and ghosts but is confronted with the reality that they can only wish and pray for such experiences in their mundane life. The line " there isn't enough primrose" suggests that the singer feels that the natural beauty and magic of the world is lacking in their current reality.
The third stanza shifts to a more ambiguous and surreal description. The singer declares that they are lost in a world that is tired and groaning. They reject the tales and visions of their peers as unfulfilling, but are drawn towards a mysterious "honorable vision of a pulseless mind." The line "death comes in an instant if you like" suggests that the singer is willing to risk death to achieve their desire for greater knowledge and experience. However, they are also aware of the possibility of connection and love, as represented by the sleeping Amelia.
The fourth stanza introduces themes of transformation and rebirth. The singer acknowledges their desire to escape their current reality by dreaming and exploring other realities. However, they also seem aware that they have the potential to change and grow in their current life, as represented by the line "Maybe this is a clue." The final two stanzas describe a past traumatic event that resulted in the singer's separation from their loved ones. The singer seems to be reflecting on their past mistakes and missed opportunities for love and connection.
Overall, "Birth Pains of Astral Projection" is a complex and introspective exploration of the human desire for transcendence and thirst for knowledge and experience. The lyrics touch on themes of love, beauty, magic, and transformation, while acknowledging the limitations and traumas of our mundane reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I can almost see shimmering faery
I am in a state between sleep and wakefulness, where I can almost see fantastical creatures.
As I recline on moss
I am lying down on a bed of moss, perhaps in a forest, adding to the feeling of being in a fantastical place.
But there isn't enough primrose
I am searching for something beautiful, such as primrose flowers, but cannot find them in this place.
There are only wishes in
Despite the lack of beauty around me, I am still able to dream and wish for something more.
A hidden forest
The fantastical place I am in is a forest that is hidden, perhaps from the real world.
I can almost see ghosts
As I continue to experience this in-between state, I now see ghosts or spirits.
As I shiver on icy floorboards
The environment has now changed to a colder, more uncomfortable place, and I am shivering on the floorboards.
But Amelia is asleep in winter
Despite the haunting environment, Amelia (perhaps a person or a symbol of hope) is still sleeping, waiting for a better time to awaken.
There are only prayers
I have no control over the situation, so all I can do is pray or hope for something better.
In a secret house
This scene takes place in another hidden or secret location, adding to the mysteriousness of the situation.
I was lost by the wayside
I am lost and unsure of my direction, adding to the feeling of being between two places.
Amidst the groans of a tired time
The world around me is also tired and struggling, contributing to the overall feeling of hopelessness.
There is nothing for me here
I have not yet found what I am looking for in this in-between state.
The tales of the flute by the fire
I am remembering stories or myths that are meant to evoke a feeling of warmth and comfort.
A stroll through a sombre evening
Despite the stories, the environment still feels sombre and depressing.
Smoke enticing from their pipes...pipes
There are others around me smoking and contributing to the melancholy feeling of the scene.
And the honourable visions
Despite the depressing surroundings, I still have visions or hopes for something better.
Of a pulseless mind
These visions come from a mind that feels numb or deadened to the world around it.
Death comes in an instant
Despite my lack of control over my surroundings, I am aware that death can come at any moment.
If you like
This fact is almost a comfort or a release from the pain of the in-between state.
But Amelia may be waking soon
Despite the bleakness, there is still hope or a possibility of something better in the form of Amelia's awakening.
When I sleep, I can't pull myself away,
When I am in deep sleep, I cannot control where my mind goes or what I experience.
Yet
Despite the lack of control over my sleep experiences, I still believe there is something beyond my consciousness.
But I know there are mansions out there,
I believe there are other planes of existence or places beyond what I can see and experience in this world.
Maybe on Saturn or Mars or Mercury or Luna,
These places could be on other planets or celestial bodies.
...Maybe this is a clue.
Perhaps these thoughts and dreams are a sign or a key to something greater.
I'd never been washed ashore
I have never experienced being stranded or lost, but that does not mean I am not lost in my current state of being.
Or seen the droll night before
This situation is new and strange to me.
My body vanished
I feel that I am not fully present or embodied in this state of being.
I hovered in the concourse
I am not fully grounded or fixed in this place, but rather floating and unmoored.
Of the court of thousands
There are many others in this in-between state around me, but we are not interacting or communicating with each other.
Of yellow asphodel
The environment around me is made up of yellow asphodel flowers, which can symbolize mourning or death.
It hurts remembering the fragrance of Heaven.
Despite the bleak surroundings, I still remember a time when things were better, and it pains me to think of it now.
We lived in the rowans, avoiding mad water
I remember a time when I lived in a safer place where I didn't have to worry about dangerous or chaotic situations.
Spoiling our children with tea and mushrooms
I had children in this previous life and spoiled them with the simple pleasures of tea and mushrooms, which I can no longer provide.
Early in the autumn as we slept by the oven
This happy memory takes place in the autumn, which is typically a season of change and transformation.
Someone sent a shape who tore the house apart.
This memory is interrupted by a figure or force that destroyed my sense of safety and security.
Our bond was shattered, I was drawn away
This destructive force shattered my connection and relationship to the people and places that were once safe and comforting.
I was caught praying in the shade.
Despite the chaos and destruction around me, I still find comfort and hope in prayer.
Recently, I went back to my door
I revisited the place that was once safe and comforting to me.
And breathed...
I took a breath, symbolizing a moment of peace and reflection.
It was love filtered through yellow paraffin
I felt a sense of love and comfort, but it was filtered or changed by the surroundings and memories associated with the smell of yellow paraffin.
We pushed with all our might
Despite the pain and destruction around us, we still fought with all our strength to find hope and happiness.
For you...
This fight and struggle is for someone or something worth fighting for, perhaps Amelia or another symbol of hope and love.
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.