Yves Tumor is a compelling artist, and no matter what you think of latest album Safe In The Hands Of Love, his first for Warp, you can’t take your ears off it. He is a fascinating writer who is able to master whichever style comes his way, free to go off at a psychedelic tangent but without compromising the structure of his work. ‘Honesty’ introduces a vocal theme that runs through the album, brought forward by James K on the title track. Initially there is a strong dubstep profile to the sound, but songs like ‘Noid’ add a blast of attitude with distorted guitars that veer towards ‘Odelay’-era Beck. The extraordinary ‘Hope In Suffering (Escaping Oblivion & Overcoming Powerlessness)’ sounds like the end of a disaster movie, while the feral closing track ‘Let The Lioness In You Flow Freely’ throws the kitchen sink in to Tumor’s already vibrant mix of colours. To get the full impact of Safe In The Hands Of Love you need to invest some time in it – but the rewards are handsome, an album that proves every bit as arresting as its cover.
Ben Hogwood
5 out of 5
