Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue cover

Released 20 years ago

Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue

Kayo Dot · 2006

60 min · 5 tracks · jazz

A sprawling, genre-defying tapestry of avant-garde jazz and post-rock that weaves intricate melodies with unpredictable shifts.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Gemini Becoming the Tripod — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its complex rhythms and haunting melodies, showcasing Kayo Dot's signature blend of styles.
  • →
    Immortelle and Paper Caravelle — This piece features lush instrumentation and dynamic shifts that exemplify the band's ability to create tension and release within their compositions.
  • →
    __ On Limpid Form — At 18 minutes long, this epic track encapsulates the album's adventurous spirit through its meditative passages and climactic crescendos, pushing musical boundaries.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
73 /100
Alpine
Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate structures and genre-blending make it a notable entry in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

  • The album features extensive use of dynamic shifts, with tracks transitioning from quiet, contemplative sections to intense, chaotic climaxes.
  • The overall structure is non-linear, with motifs reappearing in unexpected contexts rather than following traditional verse-chorus patterns.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • unpredictable shifts in atmosphere
  • long, immersive sonic explorations
  • cathartic journeys through sound
  • introspective moments of reflection

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer concise, straightforward tracks
  • want consistently upbeat tempos

Where this album fits

Career context
Released on January 10, 2006, Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue is Kayo Dot's second album, following their debut, Choirs of the Eye. This record showcases the band's evolution into more experimental territory, solidifying their unique sound in the post-rock and avant-garde scenes.
Stylistic neighbors
Tortoise· The Mars Volta· Don Caballero

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • __ On Limpid Form

    A section where the narrative voice shifts from abstract imagery to a more grounded reflection on existence.

    This transition deepens the emotional weight of the song, contrasting surreal visuals with poignant moments of clarity.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Gemini Becoming the Tripod 10:43
  • 2 Immortelle and Paper Caravelle 9:42
  • 3 Aura on an Asylum Wall 7:44
  • 4 ___ On Limpid Form 18:00
  • 5 Amaranth the Peddler 14:07

What to play next

Blue Lambency Downward
Listen next

Blue Lambency Downward

2008
Choirs of the Eye
Go back to

Choirs of the Eye

2003
Full Kayo Dot discography Artists like Kayo Dot
jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata