Album Rating: 2.0

Besides the last two albums seem redundant to me given this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWB7pmmMa1g

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

its zero synth pop. what tf makes it synth pop, the use of synths? its far from any sort of pop and the drums are insanely prog and avantgarde



the last two are different albums and not in the same genre as hubardo, they abandon nearly any traces of metal. i find the comparison redundant

Album Rating: 2.0

I never claimed it was pure synthpop, just influenced by allot of the sound. Here is Toby saying how Susumu Hirasawa influenced it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeaahO5a560

"they abandon nearly any traces of metal. " I agree, doesn't mean I cant draw comparisons between what you think is unique and past Kayo Dot.

Album Rating: 3.5

I actually feel like you just described this and Coffins the other way around

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

yes, susumu hirasawa infulenced this, but he's an eclectic artist and most of his works aren't synthpop. this is a tired argument over labels though and i find it stupid at this point.

if you can find me a piece of synthpop with the sort of drum/ bass rythms and interplay featured here, even something close, ill be impressed. i just dont see how this can be called anything other than experimental

Album Rating: 2.0

Oh shit I forgot about this thread. @Animals "if you can find me a piece of synthpop with the sort of drum/ bass...." I'll get on that.

Album Rating: 4.3 | Sound Off

Yeah I'd love to discover more music like this. I skipped through a bunch of Susumu songs and they honestly didn't remind me much of this, it's really its own thing.

Also AnimalsAsSummit's descriptions of this are awesome and making me want to up my rating for this haha

Album Rating: 2.0

"it's really its own thing." What, for you, makes it unique?

Album Rating: 4.3 | Sound Off

A lotta stuff, especially with the rhythmic interplays. Like Animals has been saying, this is pretty original and it'd be impressive if someone found something that sounded like it.

"What, for you, makes it unique?"

What, for you, makes it not?

I mean, like AAS is asking, where can you point him to anything that sounds similar to this? Because I personally don't believe there is (though I could be proved wrong).

Album Rating: 2.0

"What, for you, makes it not? " Other than a radically different production and a wash of synth's, not much stands out as new. This one is focused more on the rhythm and texture of the synth melodies . Ultimately I see it as Kayo Dot applying their formula to pop music. I love Driver and enjoy this release but I cant help see this one as regressive. Perhaps I am wrong on this.

You are

Album Rating: 2.5

you aren't

"not much stands out as new."

You keep saying that, and it's fine, but other than having a feeling of familiarity, can you actually name anything that this sounds like, or is it just perhaps that the sound of familiarity comes from Driver's consistent songwriting?

Album Rating: 2.0

No, no band sounds like Kayo Dot. Upon listening to this and Coffins last night, they seem more similar than I remembered. Even if this album was original, Its not as drastic as the jump between MotW and Choirs of the Eye.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

the intricacies of this album will get better understood and recognized by all as time passses, its ok



it is atmospherically reminding you of synthpop or pop, but very little on here (except arguably the last track) has any musical features in what is usually done in those genres; here we have about 3 or 4 bass tracks all doing different rhythms that play into eachother at once.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

and the actual melodies and scales at play here are almost similar to those you'd find it prog or prog metal but totally taken texturally to a different place. and the drumming is almost an ineffable aspect, totally abstract, yet it becomes cohesive even through its constant stuttering and falling

Album Rating: 4.3 | Sound Off

Agreed Animals. This is such a unique and engrossing listen every time I jam.



Opener and closer in particular are stunning. I also love the first 4 minutes of All the Pain.

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah, album opener is great. I love how each Kayo Dot album varies so differently from each other. They are all really good too.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

agrees. defs one of my favorite bands along w maudlin; what through me for a loop with this is ive always loved the feeling evoked by ambient techno and electronica especially from the 90s and those that were used in games. when i heard this, that is what it reminded me of aesthetically, but i was amazed that this was achieved through this context of avant-garde playing. very amazing release that hits home at some of those feelings and imaginary places.