Reviews

Bumbo

Bumbo’s Pinto Jass Band Good Boy LP

Wow, this is cool as hell. Trippy punk jazz that brings to mind CAPTAIN BEERHEART or the RESIDENTS mixed with the energy of the MINUTEMEN, specifically in the vocals and the bass runs. Very neat shit, and probably one of my most favorite things I’ve gotten to review here. Tongue-in-cheek lyrics paired with utter chaos. There’s a little bit of a surfy element incorporated here as the guitars are more often than not coated in a fine film of reverb. The layering of percussion and back-up vox really make it seem like the walls are closing in on you, but in a fun way! This one’s for the true weirdos and may not be for everyone, but this type of boldness definitely deserves a couple spins from the masses.

Bumbo’s Tinto Brass Band Maybe Later EP

Interesting mix of modern post-punk and artful post-rock—think URANIUM CLUB meets ’90s-era Thrill Jockey bands like TORTOISE and the SEA AND CAKE. Most of the tracks follow a low-key approach that blends lightly distorted bass grooves with shuffling drums, clean and jazzy guitar lines, and spoken vocals. There are no major hooks or big moments, but the record flows well, highlighting the restrained performances that are occasionally punctuated by a warbling theremin. This is an evening jam, cool and mellow without being weak or relegated to the background.

Bumbo’s Tinto Brass Band V.3 LP

BUMBO’S TINTO BRASS BAND cranks up the weirdness and delivers ten songs to annoy your neighbours with. Yes, “everything sounds slightly off” is definitely a trope in the art-rock side of the post-punk spectrum, but it’s not an easy one to nail at all. One might think it’s about tuning your instruments a bit weird or playing slightly off-beat, but I believe it’s more of a headspace that you can either get into or not…and it sounds like they were born there. I really enjoyed how unapologetically amorphous this record is, and I’m sure you will as well. Bonus points for the vocalist who sounds like D. Boon.