All Kayo Dot Songs Ranked
In anticipation for Hubardo, which is out digitally on September 1st; after absorbing it I shall remake this list, with descriptions for everything |
| 27 |  | Kayo Dot
Coyote
Abyss Hinge 1: Sleeping Birds Sighing In Roscolux |
| 26 |  | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
The Sow Submits |
| 25 | | Kayo Dot
Coyote
Whisper Ineffable |
| 24 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Right Hand is the One I Want |
| 23 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Blue Lambency Downward |
| 22 | | Kayo Dot
Coyote
Cartogram out of Phase |
| 21 |  | Kayo Dot
Gamma Knife
Mirror Water, Lightning Night |
| 20 | | Kayo Dot
Coyote
Abyss Hinge 2: The Shrinking Armature |
| 19 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
The Useless Ladder |
| 18 | | Kayo Dot
Gamma Knife
Occellated God |
| 17 | | Kayo Dot
Gamma Knife
Lethe |
| 16 |  | Kayo Dot
Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
Amaranth the Peddler |
| 15 | | Kayo Dot
Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
___On Limpid Form |
| 14 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Clelia Walking |
| 13 | | Kayo Dot
Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
Immortelle and Paper Caravelle |
| 12 | | Kayo Dot
Gamma Knife
Rite of Goethic Evocation |
| 11 | | Kayo Dot
Coyote
Calonyction Girl |
| 10 |  | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
A Pitcher of Summer |
| 9 | | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
Wayfarer |
| 8 | | Kayo Dot
Gamma Knife
Gamma Knife |
| 7 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
The Awkward Wind-Wheel |
| 6 | | Kayo Dot
Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
Gemini Becoming the Tripod |
| 5 | | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
Marathon - as an opener, this is marvellous; very dark and mysterious. The metal elements are used in moderation and come across as suitably harrowing, whilst moments of intense musicality (the horn melody after the vocals disappear at around 4:15 in particular) compliment them wonderfully. However, it is the 6 minutes of ambiance at the end that I love the most; it is so easy to get lost and drift away in them, the effect is so hypnotic |
| 4 | | Kayo Dot
Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue
Aura on an Asylum Wall - many of the songs ranked this highly are there because they are amazing experiences or incredibly innovative. Although Aura is definitely both of these, the aspect of it that I most enjoy is that it quite simply fantastic music. The manner in which the leading instrument changes from bass to guitar to trumpet to violin and then to everything at once is very fun and comes across as stylish and listenable. The buildup in the second half is extended to its full potential and relies on grooves rather than a transparent increase of tension, which I very much appreciate. I also love the outro for - if nothing else - sheer 'wherethefuckdidthatcomefrom???' value |
| 3 | | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
The Manifold Curiosity - whilst this is not the best song of Toby Driver's career (or, indeed, the best song ever), The Manifold Curiosity is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Its diversity is vast, ranging from mesmerising and relaxing acoustic strumming to a skyhigh climax driven by a clarinet solo, of all things, to the churning, metallic build at the end. It's a fantastic musical experience (if virtually incomprehensible to the ears of the first-timer) and feels wonderfully natural |
| 2 | | Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Symmetrical Arizona - I've got a feeling that I'm going to get a lot of stick for putting a Blue Lamb song this high (and above The Manifold Curiosity), but Arizona is absolutely fascinating. The extended guitar solo at the start alone warranted a top 10 placement, but it is the arrival of vocals in a verse that sounds bizarrely like 70s prog that makes the song; the atmosphere is mysterious, fragile and strangely happy all at once and Mia's violin lines are outstanding. I put this above The Manifold Curiosity because I prefer the atmosphere marginally more and because, not gonna lie, it is a lot easier to listen to |
| 1 | | Kayo Dot
Choirs of the Eye
The Antique - without a doubt, the best closer I have ever heard; the slow build at the start is incredibly ominous (and masterfully executed; the manner in which instruments and sounds (blowing wind?) are added is both subtle and effective), the barrage of doomy heaviness that follows is as terrifying as it is crushing - and then 8:20-9:20 is among my favourite musical minutes; it's as though the song has only been brooding up to this point, only to explode magnificently and then calm down just as suddenly. The ambient outro is what really makes the song, since without it there would be less contrast and it would not be nearly as striking. All in all the perfect closer, the perfect display of contrast, a wonderful use of various instruments (there are violin and piano fills that can easily go unnoticed but add A LOT) and the best Kayo Dot song |
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