Blue Lambency Downward

Blue Lambency Downward is the third studio album by American avant-garde metal band Kayo Dot, released on Hydra Head Records in May 2008. After much of the group left to pursue outside projects, the only members who remained were frontman Toby Driver and violinist and long-time collaborator Mia Matsumiya. The two began recording the album in early 2007 using a revolving door of contributing musicians. The album is heavily influenced by chamber and orchestral music, and features an abundance of woodwinds. It is widely considered to be Kayo Dot's least heavy album to date.

Blue Lambency Downward
Studio album by Kayo Dot
Released	May 6, 2008
Genre	Avant-garde rock, experimental music, chamber music
Length	43:22
Label	Hydra Head Records
Kayo Dot chronology
Dowsing Anemone with Copper Tongue (2006) Blue Lambency Downward (2008) Coyote (2010)

The ensuing tour featured a mostly new group of musicians: Patrick Wolff on woodwinds, Daniel Means on woodwinds and guitar, David Bodie on drums, and Terran Olson on woodwinds and keyboards. Much of the lineup would stay the same for the recording of their next album, Coyote.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Drowned in Sound	[2]
Lambgoat	6/10[3]
Pitchfork Media	3.3/10[4]

The album received mixed reviews. Pitchfork Media criticized it for a lack of memorability, giving it a 3.3 out of 10,^[4] while AllMusic was more favorable, giving the album 4 out of 5 stars.^[1] Drowned in Sound gave the album a 7 out of 10 stars.^[2]

Track listing

All songs and lyrics written by Toby Driver.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Blue Lambency Downward"	10:00
2.	"Clelia Walking"	5:29
3.	"Right Hand Is the One I Want"	6:54
4.	"The Sow Submits"	4:02
5.	"The Awkward Wind Wheel"	3:30
6.	"The Useless Ladder"	2:40
7.	"Symmetrical Arizona"	10:50
Total length:		43:22

Personnel

Kayo Dot

• Toby Driver – acoustic, electric, 12-string, baritone, and bass guitars; piano; organ; synthesizer; laptop Mellotron; Malletophone and gongs; soprano clarinet; voice
• Mia Matsumiya – violin, voice, organ, and knobs

Additional musicians

• Charlie Zeleny – drums
• Hans Teuber – soprano and bass clarinets, alto sax, flute
• Skerik – tenor and baritone sax, vibraphone
• Dave Abramson – Malletphone and gongs, and additional percussion
• B.R.A.D. (Brad Mowen) – low vocals on "Clelia Walking"
• Randall Dunn – sound effects and synth design