Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward

Considering that the debut album of Kayo Dot, "Choirs Of The Eye" from 2003, was released under John Zorn's Tzadik label, it will be immediately apparent that we are dealing with a band that does not take the easy sonic path for its expressive mode. It is certain that Mr. Toby Driver (known, at least in avant circles, for his solo work and his previous experience under the name Maudlin Of The Well) seems determined to do everything possible, and even the impossible, to showcase an indisputable compositional ability, which does not always go hand in hand with an equally pronounced ability to conceive of sounds that penetrate the soul of the listener. It requires a high level of intellectual engagement in order to be appreciated; which is acceptable, we don't always want the two-chord quick fix and off we go, but the seven songs of "Blue Lambency Downward" (third album and third label, since the previous "Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue" was released by Robotic Empire and this one by Hydra Head) give the impression of being pretentious and loaded with presumption, at least that of its author, and not even as "challenging" or inspired as the aura surrounding them might lead one to think. In the end, I would speak of theme in beautiful handwriting and correct spelling, but lacking content, since we weren't born yesterday and since we remember the Canterbury scene, since we know Henry Cow, since we know what rock in opposition is, along with bucolic progressive and avant rock, since the amalgamation of orchestral classical with jazz (tending towards free, although never too free) wasn't born last week, since the use of guitars, bass, and drums with clarinet, piano, flute, sax, organ, gamelan, synth, mellotron, and violin is not new to us, and since the sudden instrumental outbursts in usually expansive and peaceful musical contexts, although complex in textures and patterns, don't impress us much anymore. And then there are the reverberations, the random notes, the dissonances, the silences, the melodies, the atmospheres, the technique, etc., etc., etc.! A bit of a drag...!