Biography
The Illinois space rock and shoegaze ensemble Hum draws its core identity from relentless layers of feedback, an ethereal sustained tone, and a deep preoccupation with scientific concepts paired with extraterrestrial themes. Their commercial breakthrough arrived via the 1996 radio success of “Stars,” taken from the album You’d Prefer an Astronaut, after which the band rode the alternative-rock surge for several years until disbanding following the release of Downward Is Heavenward in 1998. Two decades later they reconvened to issue Inlet in 2020.
The project originated in 1989 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, when guitarists Matt Talbott and Andy Switzky began working together on an indie-rock venture. The initial configuration, completed by guitarist Akis Boyatzis and drummer Jeff Kropp, produced the 1989 cassette-only demo Is Like Kissing an Angel, She Said, captured in Steve Albini’s basement facility. Their first full-length effort, Fillet Show, appeared in 1990 on the 12 Inch label run by the Poster Children’s associates and reflected a noticeably different approach from the atmospheric style that would later emerge, partly because drummer Bryan St. Pere had by then supplanted Jeff Kropp. Additional personnel shifts soon followed.
After Switzky departed, Talbott assumed primary vocal and songwriting duties. Poster Children alumni Jeff Dimpsey and Tim Lash joined on bass and guitar, respectively, locking the central lineup in place. This configuration delivered the independent sophomore album Electra 2000 on the band’s own Martians Go Home imprint, its raw sonics vividly conveying the group’s expansive, otherworldly aesthetic. Touring in support encompassed indie acts such as Shellac and the Jesus Lizard alongside higher-profile runs opening for the Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair.
RCA signed Hum in 1994, leading to the pivotal release You’d Prefer an Astronaut. Powered by the breakout single “Stars,” the record unexpectedly sold nearly 250,000 copies. Further momentum came from shared bills with Bush and the Toadies, plus national-television spots on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and MTV’s 120 Minutes, solidifying a devoted audience.
Four years passed before the band returned with Downward Is Heavenward, their second RCA album, which required two separate recording attempts owing to meticulous studio standards. Issued in 1998, the darkly romantic set extended their lush, expansive sonic palette, yet it moved only 38,000 units over two years, prompting the label to drop the group. Compounding difficulties, the band’s touring van was wrecked in an accident, effectively ending their run; by December 2000 Hum had formally dissolved.
In the aftermath, Talbott launched Centaur and turned toward production work. Occasional one-off performances began in 2003, followed by a more structured reunion tour in 2015. Those activities culminated in the June 2020 release of Inlet, the band’s fifth studio album and first collection of new material in more than twenty years. Drummer Bryan St. Pere passed away on July 1, 2021, at age 52.
The project originated in 1989 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, when guitarists Matt Talbott and Andy Switzky began working together on an indie-rock venture. The initial configuration, completed by guitarist Akis Boyatzis and drummer Jeff Kropp, produced the 1989 cassette-only demo Is Like Kissing an Angel, She Said, captured in Steve Albini’s basement facility. Their first full-length effort, Fillet Show, appeared in 1990 on the 12 Inch label run by the Poster Children’s associates and reflected a noticeably different approach from the atmospheric style that would later emerge, partly because drummer Bryan St. Pere had by then supplanted Jeff Kropp. Additional personnel shifts soon followed.
After Switzky departed, Talbott assumed primary vocal and songwriting duties. Poster Children alumni Jeff Dimpsey and Tim Lash joined on bass and guitar, respectively, locking the central lineup in place. This configuration delivered the independent sophomore album Electra 2000 on the band’s own Martians Go Home imprint, its raw sonics vividly conveying the group’s expansive, otherworldly aesthetic. Touring in support encompassed indie acts such as Shellac and the Jesus Lizard alongside higher-profile runs opening for the Smashing Pumpkins and Liz Phair.
RCA signed Hum in 1994, leading to the pivotal release You’d Prefer an Astronaut. Powered by the breakout single “Stars,” the record unexpectedly sold nearly 250,000 copies. Further momentum came from shared bills with Bush and the Toadies, plus national-television spots on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and MTV’s 120 Minutes, solidifying a devoted audience.
Four years passed before the band returned with Downward Is Heavenward, their second RCA album, which required two separate recording attempts owing to meticulous studio standards. Issued in 1998, the darkly romantic set extended their lush, expansive sonic palette, yet it moved only 38,000 units over two years, prompting the label to drop the group. Compounding difficulties, the band’s touring van was wrecked in an accident, effectively ending their run; by December 2000 Hum had formally dissolved.
In the aftermath, Talbott launched Centaur and turned toward production work. Occasional one-off performances began in 2003, followed by a more structured reunion tour in 2015. Those activities culminated in the June 2020 release of Inlet, the band’s fifth studio album and first collection of new material in more than twenty years. Drummer Bryan St. Pere passed away on July 1, 2021, at age 52.
Albums
