I came to HTRK through the back door, after reading a glowing review of Rhinestones in the Wire. Knowing no better, I missed completely the shock and surprise of hearing a band characterised by the blunt thump of a Roland drum machine and cavernous bass throb sidestep into fingers brushing nylon guitar strings and hushed 5am vocals. Only after seeing their low-key but dazzling set at the Workman’s Club did I start working through their back catalogue: the minimalist noise rock of their Rowland S. Howard–produced debut, Marry Me Tonight, the dubbed electronics of Psychic 9-5 Club.
There aren’t many revelations in this Quietus interview with Jonnine Standish and Nigel Yang, but the tracks selected are a great introduction to their music. Luke Turner nails most of my favourites (“Gilbert and George”, “Fascinator”) but from Psychic 9-5 Club, I’d give the nod to the album closer:
(Something about that “Strange World of…” series title feels lumpen and hapless to me…could there be anything less strange than the doggedly unglamorous work ethic of Fugazi, for instance?)
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