Yesterday marks the 30th anniversary of two all-time great hip-hop albums, to if you are into that stuff, it’s as good a time as any to go and listen to Wu-Tang Clan’s “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”, as well as A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauder”.
(Personally, I am partial to ATCQ over Wu-Tang on account of their jazz-infused sound and general flow, but happy to hear countering viewpoints 😛 )
That being said, as they are both getting their fair share of limelight already this week, let’s focus on a contemporary artist that is breaking with genre and conventions, but not quite as ubiquitous: Yves Tumor.
Born and raised in conservative parts of the US, Yves Tumor started making music to escape their perceived boring surroundings, teaching themself to play the drums, bass, guitar and keyboard (quite some boredom that must have been!).
While their first album “When Man Fails You” was quite chill and subdued, the following albums have progressively grown in their musical ambition and genre-bending experimentalism – simultaneously, increasing in production quality.
I had already come across sophomore album “Safe In The Hands of Love” (2018), but it was “Heaven To A Tortured Mind”’s (2020) opener (“Gospel For A New Century”) that really made my ears perk up. The sound on that later album, as well as their latest, “Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)” (2023), has garnered them comparisons to Prince and David Bowie.
And if their music is not exciting enough for you, hop on YouTube and check out their videos (e.g. “Gospel For A New Century” and “God Is A Circle“) for an added layer of … let’s say “artistic expression / intensity”
Have a great weekend, friends!
Coryphe 