Atmospheric spaced-out sound worth your time

Atmospheric spaced-out sound worth your time
Jesse White
For The Corner News - Auburn, AL
published March 24, 2009

Detroit progressive rock band Bump opts for a jam approach when performing live.

Bump is a progressive rock group from Detroit. While their songs are widely varied in style, the recurring theme is an atmospheric, spaced-out sound that is deep in mood and advanced structurally. The band will be playing Saturday, March 28, at the Olde Auburn Ale House, promoting their newest record, “Forward.”

The tight composition on the album is put aside in the band’s live shows for an exploratory, jam-heavy approach that showcases the members’ musicianship.
The song “Everyone Knows” has high, U2-esque guitar textures and an ambient background with vocals that tie the track together perfectly, resulting in an almost Radiohead experience. As the album progresses, however, Bump switches to a jazz/country realm and a change in singers to a nasal, Blue Oyster Cult mixed with Drivin’ and Cryin’ vocalist.

On the song “Disconnected” as well as many others, guitarist Yorg Kerisiotis always plays melodic lines that compliment the rest of the group perfectly and avoids ever being over the top, the sign of a musician concerned with well crafted songs rather than stroking his own ego.

Keyboards, occasional forays into rock and jazz, Beatle-esque chord changes and multiple layers are all a part of Bump’s sound. They have tight, well written songs with creative lyrics.

Fans of the Alan Yates Band or Lake Trout will enjoy “Forward;” just like Lake Trout, Bump opts for a jam approach to their songs when performing live. That being said, “Forward” is a great record, but one shouldn’t miss an opportunity to the this band live.

For more on the band, visit myspace.com/bumpband.