Kayo Dot - Gamma Knife

Padraic wrote: JJLehto wrote: Gunna listen to it all though, I'm sure it'll take time anyway. Luckily for you, the album clocks in at about 30 minutes. It is indeed a return to earlier "metal" sensibilities.

Yes, I was quite surprised by the length.
As Anthony said...some tracks are just bit noisy for my taste but it's avant after all. Can't make an opinion yet on the new KD but I'm not disliking it all.

sleeper wrote: CCVP wrote: I liked Kayo Dot before they copied Canvas Solaris. Well, thats like saying "I liked Opeth before they copied Van der Graaf Generator". Great song from the sadly split CS.

But I did!

First listen wasn't very convincing. :(

3 stars

 Start the year off right with a listen to a dissonant avant-metal-jazz explosion.

Kayo Dot's recent album "Gamma Knife" is the first 2012 album I listened to and began the year on a discordant note. It is no secret to those who know me that I am no fan of the darker side of prog and the bleak "Coyote" was more of an endurance test for me. I will admit that I approached this latest Toby Driver offering with a degree of trepidation. The opening track o chamber music had me spellbound immediately. Once the bells begin to toll and the hymnal Gregorian style chanting is over on 'Lethe', a dissonant collage of guitar crashes breaks the serenity. A death metal growl invades the doomy atmosphere surprisingly. The off kilter saxophone is an intriguing embellishment and a cacophony of sound results. This continues for some time generating a darkened soundscape. Then blastbeats and anguished cries follow, almost sounding like Emperor or other Norwegian black metal. This is the 'Rite of Goetic Evocation' and it may surprise many listeners, as it is a very atonal cacophonous sound that is jarring on the ear.

Next is a jazzy piece that sounds like a bunch of saxophones having in an affray. The competing instruments are drawn together by Driver's estranged vocals. Interestingly enough this track sounds like Van der Graaf Generator music when they play the inharmonious improvised sections of songs such as on "Pawn Hearts". There is a thankful break in the song and the time sig diverges into unknown territory on 'Mirror Water, Lightning Night'. I am becoming hooked by the saxophone as lead instrument at this point. It becomes quite a noise in places, none of the instruments attempting to stay into any particular time metrical pattern. The result is a sound of intimidating ferocity, perhaps the angriest album I have heard in some time.

It almost transforms into death metal jazz on the unnerving 'Ocellated God'. Growling screechy vocals and insane manic woodwind clash together and at one point the tempo quickens until there is a repeated 3 note motif that once again is very much like VDGG. The growls become intense and the hyper percussion and dissonant woodwind sound as if the band are having a multiple progressive disorder, perhaps a musical breakdown. The music goes all over the place and intensely frenzied as Driver screams unintelligible cries. It is almost humorous such is the vehemence of the instruments. This may be what it sounds like when an orchestra is having a bad day.

Finally it ends with 'Gamma Knife' with very gentle guitar and Driver is at peace on calming vocals having had his tantrum previously. The tessellated fractured keyboard phrases are quite beautiful. There is a sound like a harp flowing up and down the scales and arpeggios. Driver's voice becomes more penetrating with a style similar to that on "Coyote". It is the best track on the album apart from the opening. It is strange how this beauty is bookended with all the rage sandwiched in between.

The album cover may be the most unimaginative I have seen and I would wonder how this would appeal to those unfamiliar with Kayo Dot. First we have The Beatles "White Album", then Metallica's "Black Album", Robert Calvert's "Freq" , purple album, Eddy Current Suppression Ring's "Primary Colours", red album, or yellow album on vinyl, now presenting Kayo Dot's "Sky Blue Album" and gone is the iconic logo down the side of the album. The Sky Blue is definitely in stark contrast to the dark black music which is perhaps the point. It is a good thing the music is brimming with imagination and vigour because the packaging isn't.

My conclusion is this will appeal to the Toby Driver and Kayo Dot fanbase, no doubt but the rest of us must tread cautiously as we approach this uncanny music.

Padraic wrote: harmonium.ro wrote: First listen wasn't very convincing. :( Give it time.

Yes, for someone that likes playing with minimalism quite a bit, Gamma Knife is incredibly dense and busy. It's going to take me, a dyed in the wool TD fan, quite a while to fully digest this one. I've got to admit though, it does feel as if it's missing a song or two.

Same here. Too bad that won't happen.

Streamed this from bandcamp last night.  Not sure what to think.  I've had Coyote for about a year and like it quite a bit.  Just got Choirs of the Eye a few days ago.  The three middle songs here are obviously "out there".  I like them for the most part, but track 4 might be a "bit much".  Reminds me most of Doctor Nerve Skin.  Enjoyable at times, but also somewhat hard to take.  The calmer pieces are pretty nice.

sleeper wrote: Padraic wrote: For me the only minus right now is the sound quality on some of the tracks - I'd absolutely love if they could be re-recorded in studio. Which version did you download?

I went to the bandcamp page - I wasn't aware that there was more than one version. 

What others are there?

sleeper wrote: Padraic wrote: sleeper wrote: Padraic wrote: For me the only minus right now is the sound quality on some of the tracks - I'd absolutely love if they could be re-recorded in studio. Which version did you download? I went to the bandcamp page - I wasn't aware that there was more than one version.  What others are there? I meant that the you can download it in mp3, FLAC, ALAC etc. I downloaded the mp3 format and the sound is OK, though I think the production could have done with a little more work.

I agree with what Pat said. I get they wanted the whole live feel, but music this dense would be better served by a studio recording I think.

I don't really think this has much to do with their earlier material. I mean yes it's heavier, but it's not anything that would have fit on either of their first two albums.

I like the quasi-religious, occult feel to the whole thing. I like the percussion. I like the way the two saxes are used. I need more time really. It gets very much better with every listen.