Yves Tumor – ‘God Is A Circle’ / New Single

Yves Tumor is officially back with lead single “God Is a Circle”. Seemingly kickstarting the beginning of a new era from Yves, the Turin-based artist is not just replicating the sound of his previous work, but diving even deeper into the pitch black aesthetic that brought his previous two projects The  Asymptotical World and Heaven To A Tortured Mind widespread critical acclaim.  

“God Is a Circle” sees Yves employ a more direct lyrical approach, with stripped-back vocals that have extra room to breathe in comparison to the more distorted techniques that are more commonly associated with his previous sound. An undeniably unsettling song, it kicks off with raspy screams and meteoric breathing that imply a sense of desperation or claustrophobia. This sentiment is further echoed with Yves stating ‘there’s places in my mind that I cannot go / there’s people in my life I still  don’t know.’ Additionally, this claustrophobic narrative is reflected by the music video, where Yves is being buried alive amidst a backdrop of dense fog and perished trees.  

For Yves Tumor fans, these feelings of loneliness or distress endorsing experimental guitar chords won’t be in any way foreign. Much of his previous full-length album Heaven To a Tortured Mind covered the narrative territory of being in a relationship with a partner who was “wretched” and “heartless.” The metallic guitar licks are seemingly arbitrary throughout the song, rarely correlating to the progression of the drums. However, this is clearly purposeful on Yves’ part, playing a key role in both distinguishing the track sonically and adding to the dark feeling of the track.  

The phrase “God Is a Circle” is a biblical reference that implies wholeness or perfection. Yves seems to be anything but, describing how he ‘just feel(s) like a nobody.’ With a new album seemingly on the way in 2023, it’ll be exciting to if Yves covers some unique territory both in his songwriting and production.

Words by Caleb H