written by Maria Arroyo
Alternative and indie band, Yumi Zouma, has released its third album, Truth or Consequences! This retro and electronically driven album was created with the biggest focus on having a deeper sense of collaboration to showcase the bond they have with one another. One of its members, Charlie Ryder, says that “we wanted to make the songwriting process as egalitarian as possible. Completely sharing the process helped us feel like we were capturing a purer sense of atmosphere.”
On their first song, “Lonely After”, their vocalist, Christie Simpson, draws listeners in with her soft and wispy vocals that is a huge highlight on the rest of the album. I think this was a great choice for an opener because it added a lot of the little intricacies that the other songs have, so it’s a great overview of who they are. The retro and alternative indie vibes are a great opener for the album. The song has a little bit of everything from their other songs so it gives a pretty good overview of their sound.
“Southwark” is definitely a favorite for me. There was a sense of vulnerability that wasn’t in the other songs that really drew me in. I also grew fond of their song, “Cool For A Second”, because there was more focus on a rhythmic change that breaks up the similarity of their sound, whereas “Mirror To The Fire” created more dynamic changes to keep a sense of tension alive.
Another turning point for the album is their song “My Palms Are My Reference To Hold Your Heart” because they took the time to fill a lot of the space within the recording with different production layers and harmonies. It was a lot to listen to, but it didn’t feel like it was too much, which is something I always take a liking to.
Bringing us closer to the end of the album, the track “Magazine Bay” produced with a funky and retro sound that diverts from their typical sound. It caught my ear immediately and kept me hooked till it ended. Even something as simple as adding another vocalist added another dynamic that the album was lacking, and it jumped to the top of my list.
Something that captures exactly what this album is all about is said best by another member, Josh Burgess. He says that “In the age, we’re living in, there’s an emphasis on making things clear cut…” and that “in life and in art, nothing is ever that definitive. The truth is usually in the gray zones, and I think that’s so much of what we were trying to explore and understand on this album.”
Yumi Zouma’s lead singer Christie Simpson even has an online diary series that The Recording Academy touches on in this interesting article if you’re interested in what artists are doing to keep themselves busy during this COVID-19 situation!
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