Hoover, formed in Washington, D.C., in the
summer of 1992, may have only existed briefly (they broke up in the spring
of 1994), but the band had a tremendous impact on post-hardcore music.
Early on, Hoover was wrongly dubbed a Fugazi copycat, but played intense,
angular, ominous music (to which late-'90s Fugazi may actually owe a debt)
thanks to the otherworldly rhythm section of Fred Erskine on bass/vocals and
Chris Farral on drums and the shattering dual guitar and vocal onslaught of
Joe McRedmond and Al Dunham. With two explosive singles released in 1993,
Hoover proved themselves to be one of D.C.'s most exciting new bands. Their
first and only album on Dischord — The Lurid Traversal of Route 7, released
in February of 1994 — sealed the deal. Combining the compulsive power of
Drive Like Jehu, a loud-soft dynamic that was previously explored by Slint
and would later be perfected by Mogwai, and the three vocalists' dramatic,
purging lyrics, Hoover unleashed a fury that would not be soon forgotten.
But, upon returning home to D.C. in April of 1994, following a tour in
support of The Lurid Traversal, Hoover announced that the band would split.
McRedmond and Erskine went on to form the Crownhate Ruin, which disbanded
after the release of their 1995 full-length Until the Eagle Grins, and
Erskine continued to play in June of 44. Dunham went on to form Regulator
Watts and Albilene. Hoover had a brief reunion in 1997 to record the last
four songs they wrote before the band's end. These songs were released as a
self-titled EP on Slowdime in 1998.
Amazon.com: "This is absolutely the most original, humane and magnificent piece of work to come out of the so called punk movement. D.C. is known for raising up some incredibly talented and enlightened musicians - but whoa - can anyone say 1+1=743! The synergy of these four musicians - if it's raw intensity could appeal to a popular audience would surely garner the respect of the most critical music afficionados anywhere! If you want cerebral - it's here, if you want melodic - it's here, if you want honest and emotional - it's here."