Hunters & Collectors - The Fireman's CurseTheir second album and weirdest effort, this Conny Plank-produced record is roundly dismissed by the group, although that's not so surprising considering how they morphed into a pub rock outfit after 1986. It follows in the vein of the industrial art-funk of their debut but features added eccentricity and messiness coupled with often jarring vocals and lyrics from Mark Seymour. It's a little Birthday Party-tinged – not surprisingly, Seymour used to be a roadie for them – and perhaps there's some pretense to it, but it doesn't sound like much else out there aside from then-percussionist Greg Perano's later offshoot group The Deadly Hume (and maybe 2x45-era Cabaret Voltaire or early Shriekback if you really want to stretch it). Certainly it's miles better than their streamlined pub rock material and these days I find myself listening to it even more than The Jaws of Life or their self-titled album, even though I think both of those are better records. "Curse," "Sway," "Judas Sheep" and "Eggheart" are worth a listen at least.
