Hunters on the track

Press, 8 May 1986, Page 10

Hunters on the track

HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS “Human Frailty” (White Label L 38524). “The Way to Go Out” indeed ... four albums and five years of almost continual playing for a minimal return in the pop market place made the title of last year’s live Hunters and Collectors LP seem more than a little prophetic. Losing a couple of members after the “Fireman’s Curse” LP (the second from the Australian band) made it necessary to remake and remodel, but the following "Jaws of Life” set was just uninspiring enough to make you wonder if the band had had its fifteen minutes worth.

Not quite — “Throw Your Arms Around Me” was a single of some stature towards the end of 1984, and now, "Human Frailty,” the second re-

lease from H and C Mark 11, hits the racks. The new sound lacks the big production and “industrial” percussion of the early discs, but the essence of the band remains their rumbling, heavy rhythm section, and the soulful growl of the lead vocalist, Mark Seymour. Reduced to a basic rock ‘n’ roll line-up, the new H and C found a few problems maintaining interest over the length of the last LP. But “Human Frailty” is a big improvement on "Jaws of Life,” possibly resulting from the lengthy 18-month break between the two.

A remixed “Throw Your Arms Around Me,” (the next single) is of course, the highlight, but the first single, “Say Goodbye,” is also a neat summation of H and C basic charm.

“Relief’ is a slow burner that offers some respite from the usual bass and drum sound, and on side two, “The Finger” points toward the more commercial direction of “Throw Your Arms” and commercial success for H and C is vital. It’s not perfect — Seymour’s passion occasionally comes across as forced (“This Morning” drags terribly), and there are a couple of awkward reminders of "Jaws of Life’s” mediocrity. But, overall, “Human Frailty” lives up to the “accessible without compromises” hype you may have tripped over recently — their best LP since that remarkable debut, and one that points toward a renaissance in their fortunes. — TONY GREEN.