Evaluation: Yves Tumor cheekily preaches for non secular fluidity

The artist’s latest album, “Reward A Lord Who Chews However Which Does Not Eat; (Or Merely, Scorching Between Worlds)” is wealthy in visible aesthetic and political argument. 

In “Reward A Lord Who Chews However Which Does Not Eat; (Or Merely, Scorching Between Worlds),” Yves Tumor overtly and subtly pokes enjoyable on the rigidity of Christianity, arguing for a extra versatile lens by means of which to have a look at the world. Tumor, who obtained their begin within the digital music scene, has veered into glam-rock territory with their previous few albums.

Born in Miami and raised in Knoxville, TN, Tumor has been referred to as a “modern rockstar,” and the label fits their actual identify — Sean Bowie. Very similar to the opposite well-known Bowie, Tumor leans into the subversive and lavish legacy of rock music. Tumor adorns themself in leather-based jackets, studded belts and an air of sensuality in each their stay performances and music movies.

In an interview with Dazed Journal, Tumor stated they began making music to get away from the “very conservative, racist, homophobic, sexist surroundings” they have been raised in. Faith, a significant side of their conservative upbringing, is a theme that thrums all through a lot of Tumor’s work. Lots of their track titles allude to biblical themes, akin to previous releases “Gospel for a New Century” and “Religion in Nothing Besides Salvation.” Within the Dazed Journal interview, Tumor stated they suppose “faith is super-toxic,” however added that “spirituality could be necessary to holding your self balanced.”

“God is a Circle” is the primary observe on the album, and it begins with a screech. Rhythmic and heavy respiratory fashions the beat round which the track’s fundamental melody is constructed. Digital barks and evident digital guitar notes punctuate the opener.

The lyrics of “God is a Circle” communicate to feelings which are odd and really human, speaking a common loneliness and want for love. Within the refrain, Tumor sings: “Understanding you / You may harm somebody / Or your self / You’ll tear / All the pieces aside / For those who came upon / Everybody you really liked liked another person.” Pairing these lyrics with photos of monsters and exaggerated Christian iconography within the observe’s video, Tumor questions the monsterization of sure our bodies that happens below conservative non secular views. Traditionally, queer, Black, and gender non-conforming our bodies have all been condemned as irregular states of being, however “God is a Circle” factors to the truth that even so-called monsters really feel the identical as everybody else.

Tumor’s centering of the physique — writhing our bodies, contorting our bodies and our bodies that collide — makes probably the most urgent preoccupations of their work, the questioning of why some our bodies are deemed extra regular than others, clear. They blatantly, and maybe uncomfortably, parade the bodily human physique, sustaining a concentrate on accepting those that have been ostracized for a way they current themselves — whether or not or not it’s by the hands of spiritual expectations, or societal norms.

“Echolalia” is likely one of the stand-out tracks from the album. A synth melody introduces the track, and Tumor seamlessly enters the track with a “Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm, mm, mm.” The airiness of their voice and the rumble of the bass guitar provides the observe a heart-palpitating, addicting sensuality. 

Tumor expertly, however nonchalantly, applies this non-essentialist method to their music creation course of as nicely.

“I’m not deliberately making an attempt to vary my sound as a method, it’s not one thing that I’m doing forcefully,” Tumor stated in an interview with Flaunt Journal. “As quickly as I’m accomplished with the document, and I’ve that sound embodied in that bodily kind, I simply don’t need to ever revisit it.”

The spontaneity guiding Tumor’s method to music-making is on full show all through their newest album’s style bricolage. “Meteora Blues” has a pop-punk affect with its radio-ready, approachable tackle punk rock. “Worry Evil Like Fireplace” is a extra delicate observe, with backing vocals that sound like gospel, and lyrics that set off reminiscences of fine instances spent with particular individuals. “Purified By the Fireplace” reveals Tumor’s digital music roots, starting with a Motown-esque pattern that transforms into a group of drone tones, digital beats and overexposed drum hits. The album melds the genres of rock, psychedelia, pop, soul and experimental digital, making a document that’s effortlessly multi-faceted and unique. 

It’s by no means apparent the place Tumor will go. The way forward for their sound, their private life and their beliefs can normally solely be gleaned by piecing collectively scattered rumors. What is understood, nonetheless, is that no matter they create subsequent will undoubtedly be sonically progressive and visually vibrant.

Contact Sandy Battulga at [email protected]