Although born in Miami, Florida, musical artist Yves Tumor was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Their fifth full-length studio album, “Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds),” dives into diverse and eclectic soundscapes that touch on various genres but remain true to their idiosyncratic approach to songwriting.
Tumor’s time in Knoxville was a formative period for them creatively but was largely not a positive experience. They cited Southern conservatism and bigotry as their reasons for leaving the state of Tennessee for California.
Despite Tumor’s Southern upbringing, their style owes nothing to the typical sounds of the South. Instead, Tumor blends a mix of psych rock, grunge and pop. This exploration of genre combined with the burgeoning singer-songwriter’s ambient background makes for the most innovative and sonically diverse album to date for Tumor.
The album opens with the track “God Is a Circle,” a song driven by a thumping bass line and Tumor’s soft-spoken voice.
Tumor sings of lost love and self-discovery on the track which pairs pulsating instrumentation with introspective lyrics.
“You would tear, Everything apart, If you found out, Everyone you loved loved someone else,” Tumor sings.
The track sets the perfect pace for the album both lyrically and musically as Tumor continues to dive into new territory.
Tracks such as “Lovely Sewer,” “Meteora Blues,” “Parody” and “Heaven Surround Us Like a Hood” continue the genre exploration by Tumor while also standing out as some of the most creative and pleasing songs on the album.
“Echolalia,” the single from the album that garnered the most attention, is Tumor’s attempt at making a dark, poppy track replete with lush synths and a thudding bass typical of Tumor’s music.
The track “Echolalia” is a high point on an album that is full of experimental triumphs and demonstrates the talent for songwriting possessed by Tumor.
“Fear Evil Like a Fire” and the penultimate “Purified By the Fire” demonstrate the diverse talent possessed by Tumor.
“Fear Evil Like a Fire,” the standout track on the album, is another attempt at pop by Tumor – one that is executed perfectly. The relentlessly catchy hook plays well with the painfully lonesome lyrics and sounds of the verse.
“I’m such a tired game, Nothing feels new to me,” Tumor sings. “Heaven is a place that we all have.”
Backup vocals layered with Tumor’s ethereal falsetto during the chorus makes for one of the most pleasing tracks to date for the artist.
“Purified By the Fire” is a drastic change of direction from prior songs on “Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds),” relying solely on instrumentation.
The instrumental track still sounds distinctly Tumor, as the grand opening begins to distort and stutter and transform into what feels like an entirely different song altogether.
The album ends with “Ebony Eye,” a fitting finale for a fantastic album. The track opens with a stunning symphonic hook lead by strings, a heavy guitar line and the ever present pulse of Tumor’s rhythm section.
As the instruments fade, the voice of Tumor reclaims the reins and steers the song, accompanied by lyrics of past romance.
With Tumor’s vocals now in full flow, the accompanying instruments begin to pick up yet again. The result is a dramatic, emotional conclusion to an album that feels like a demonstration of Tumor’s diverse capabilities.
