Review : KAYO DOT – “Coyote”

Kayo Dot - Coyote
Release Date: 2010Apr20 (US)
Label: Hydra Head Records
Rating: 4.5/5

This is the latest release from Kayo Dot, a band described as post-metal, post-rock with a touch of avant garde. “Calonyction Girl” is a hodgepodge of experimental noise that plods along with a time signature that tries to maintain a balance between grit and melody. If I could name possible influences, I would go with early Pink Floyd and possibly even Rush. “Whisper Ineffable” follows a similar footprint  with distortion from the guitars (possibly from plucking a string or two at a time) and really not much else. About 4 minutes in, things start to pick up and the sound becomes more defined before dropping back down at 7 and a half minutes. For one thing, it’s certainly impossible to categorize this music because the point of it is to defy such categorization. It’s just a lovely song. “Abyss Hinge 1: Sleeping Birds Sighing In Roscolux” is shorter in length but not depth. I can pick out elements of hardcore and grunge. “Abyss Hinge 2: The Shrinking Armature” seems to be the strongest track of all with a very epic, avant garde feel to it. It has a psychedelic, symphonic feel to it, owing a lot to earlier progressive rock/metal acts. I like how the drums are laid down and how they interact with the rest of the instruments. At 5 and a half minutes in, it becomes slower with faint drumbeats. To listen to this is to basically sit back and go on a journey to Mars. Quite possibly the best track on this album. “Cartogram Out Of Phase” closes off this album. In conclusion, Kayo Dot is not your typical rock/metal act. They succeed at pushing the limits of categorization completely off a cliff and if anything, you should listen to this album if you are interested in expanding your horizons without actually using an illicit substance.

FCC:
Try: 1, 3, 4

01. Calonyction Girl
02. Whisper Ineffable
03. Abyss Hinge 1: Sleeping Birds Sighing In Roscolux
04. Abyss Hinge 2: The Shrinking Armature
05. Cartogram Out Of Phase