Serpent Music

Released in 2016 on the avant-garde label PAN, Serpent Music represents a pivotal moment in Yves Tumor's evolution from a noise-adjacent producer to a visionary of experimental pop. While later works would embrace glam-rock and high-fidelity production, this album is defined by its 'hypnagogic' and lo-fi qualities. It was famously conceived as a 'soul record,' though the final product is a fractured, collage-like interpretation of the genre. The recording incorporates a wide array of organic instruments and field recordings, creating a tactile, 'lived-in' sound that contrasts with its digital manipulations. Critics, including those at Pitchfork and The Quietus, have noted its similarities to the work of Dean Blunt and James Ferraro, specifically in its use of repetition and sonic 'concussions.' It stands as a landmark of mid-2010s experimental music, bridging the gap between club culture, noise, and psychedelic soul.