I love this song by Yves Tumor, which captures an early 80s alternative vibe yet sounds completely fresh. Secrecy Is Incredibly Important To The Both Of Them originally came out last July on the 6-track digital release, The Asymptotical World EP, followed in October by vinyl releases on 12" and 3x 7". The official video finally dropped in February and it's a riot.
Yves Tumor has been releasing music since 2015, via Warp Records from 2018, and I first heard them via Adrian Sherwood's incredible Warp vs. On-U Sound Mix from 2019. They also collaborated with Dubhed favourite Kelsey Lu on Let All The Poisons That Lurk In The Mud Seep Out in December 2020.
Apart from the above and a previous single, Kerosene! (also excellent), I haven't dug any deeper yet but I'm intrigued enough to investigate further.
If I were a stickler for observing anniversaries, I'll have just missed the boat with this mix, as it was originally transmitted on NTS Radio on 22 June 2019. This is legendary producer Adrian Sherwood giving the Warp Records label an ON-U Sound rinse. 30 years of brilliance in 40 minutes.
The title of today's post is a line from track 2, Licking An Orchid by Yves Tumor, originally released in 2018, the words seem especially appropriate in the present time.
1) Wilmot: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994) 2) Licking An Orchid: Yves Tumor ft. James K (2018) 3) Flip Ya Lid: Nightmares On Wax (2006) 4) Nikels And Dimes: GonjaSufi (2012) 5) Auntie's Harp: Flying Lotus (2008) 6) Leyendecker: Battles (2007) 7) Dutty Bounce: Harmonic 313 (2012) 8) Alberto Balsalm: Aphex Twin (1995) 9) We'll Take It: Oneohtrix Point Never ft. Anohni & James Blake (2012) 10) Blood And Form: Mount Kimbie (2013) 11) Now Is The Time: Nightmares On Wax (2013) 12) Lion: Harmonic 313 (2012) 13) Simon From Sydney: LFO (1991) 14) Clonk's Coming: Sweet Exorcist (1991) 15) Pen Expers: Autechre (2001)
I belatedly discovered the music and performances of Kelsey Lu during the first lockdown in 2020, and I’ve been completely captivated ever since. I love that you never quite know what you’re going to get next, from classical to R&B to ambient soundscapes to techno, sometimes within the same piece of music. Their story is also a fascinating background that explains in part the rich diversity and unique character of their songs. There is a great interview with Kelsey Lu in The Guardian from Sep 2020.
Following the release of Let All The Poisons That Lurk In The Mud Seep Out, their collaboration with Yves Tumor on Christmas Day 2020, Kelsey has collaborated with Boys Noize & Chilly Gonzales on Ride Or Die. The Boys Noize You Tube page states that the song “reflects upon the tumultuous emotional tenor of our uncertain future before exploding into delirious, peak-time techno”. As if this isn’t enough to draw you in, the video is rather spectacular too.
I featured Kelsey Lu’s 20-minute immersive ‘nature soundscape’ Hydroharmonia (Episode 1) in my best of 2020 post a while ago, but I would strongly recommend checking out any and all of their back catalogue. With more new music - and hopefully performances - imminent in 2021, now’s the time to ride or die.
Outside Inside That side you'll know That side you know Outside you'll know That side you know Outside you know Outside you'll know That side you know Outside you
Knew it from the start Didn't I? Didn't I? Didn't I? Like a kiss on the run Salty cheeks from the sun Be my ride or die Like a kiss on the run Salty cheeks from the sun Be my ride or die
In the desert sky A message right before my eye In the desert sky Flashed before my eyes, beforе my eyes, beforе my eyes Yah, your cheeky bones said to the sky Let me make a sound into the wild
Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die
Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run
Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die Be my ride or die
Like a kiss on the run Like a kiss on the run I saw the signs I saw the signs Are you still lovin' on the sidelines Got used to livin' on the sidelines No use still living undecided Be my ride or die
Outside you know Outside you'll know That side you know Outside you know That side you know Outside you
