The cover arts for each of the Everywhere at the End of Time albums follow the stages of dementia in that they start out recognizable and slowly become more abstract and unclear. Except for Stage 6◊,note titled "Necrotomigaud" which is not only obvious in what it is, but has a large amount of detail. Why? Patients in Stage 6 of Dementia sometimes experience "terminal lucidity", wherein they regain their faculties weeks or even hours before their death. Thus, the art of the final stage is clear and detailed because it's a sign that the Caretaker's life is coming to an end. Doubles as Fridge Horror.
As shown in this YouTube documentary, the color schemes used in the cover arts of Everywhere at the End of Time can be interpreted to follow a pattern of illustration upon close inspection.
Stage 1's colors can be based around the reminiscence of new activities from the early 20th century, such as modern sports, television and photography.
Stage 2's colors, while continuing with the early 20th century stuff, are more centered on textures that give a feeling of decay, such as items from a grandparent/great-grandparent at the time, rusting metallic objects, and military gear during weathered times.
Stage 3's color scheme takes on a medical theme, including typical tones seen in pharmaceutical products, hospitals and medical uniforms.
Stage 4's colors are taken from natural environments, such as spices and powders, sea water, and soil.
Stage 5 returns to the color themes of the first two stages, as in looking back to the past a last time. Represented items include old furniture, wedding shoes and jewelry.
Stage 6's colors could represent different sorts of "dead ends", such as grimy walls without doors or windows, folded-up chairs and spiderwebs.
According to Kirby, the six-month gaps between the releases of each stage of Everywhere at the End of Time are meant to represent an outside observer checking in on the Caretaker periodically and seeing a snapshot of their mental state at that point in time. If we assume this is taking place in real time, the Caretaker was going through their deterioration over the better part of three years. And depending on your interpretation, what we hear in Everywhere was only what they were feeling during these visits. What horrors did they experience the rest of that time?
◊,note which is not only obvious in what it is, but has a large amount of detail. Why? Patients in Stage 6 of Dementia sometimes experience "terminal lucidity
