Hum

Downward is Heavenward (RCA)
by Celine Hania

A running theme of outer space prevails in Hum‘s music: their last album on RCA, with its title track, You’d Prefer an Astronaut, and third song, the one that got them recognition, “she thinks she miii-ssed the train -to Marss, she’s out back countin’ starss” buh, buh bah buh… On their most recent effort, Downward is Heavenward, they cover satellites, time machines, stars, and moon travel.

If you liked their past albums, you’ll be just as pleased with this one. It’s indie rock with the usual fuzz tone guitars, shifting tempos, and buildups. Sometimes sweet and low, sometimes heavy, they start loud and turn down, or vice versa. The track order is similar to the last record’s, the first songs being very much alike, same type of noisy intro songs with distorted guitars and the moaning voice of Matt Talbott. The second song comes in holding a light, steady beat for a couple of bars before hitting you with a punch. Louder guitars, pounding drums; it’s pandemonium. There is one soft, sleepy song on this one too, also at the end of the CD. Downward is Heavenward sounds similar to their previous material, but it’s different enough that you don’t think you’re listening to the same record twice.