Fire Walk With Me: HTRK

Ever been violated in a grime infested toilet cubical by a moustachio’d, 10 gallon hat wearing sleaze-rat? That sound as you come stumbling out onto the dancefloor, the Qualudes you were spiked with wearing off and horror attacking you from all sides, is HTRK. Pronounced Hate Rock, the band sound like every David Lynch movie soundtrack rolled into one. About to support Yeah Yeah Yeahs on their forthcoming European tour, bassist Sean Stewart and vocalist Jonnine Standish tell DazedDigital about their favourite album artworks.

Sean:
Stooges - 'Funhouse'
Sleaze and dirt that still thrills today.

Kraftwerk - 'Mensch Maschine'
Growing up in Australia Germany was a place I could only imagine through post-World War 2 myths and popular rhetoric.  In computer games the Nazi would often depicted as performing horrifying science experiments and always replete in a pressed shirt, tie and stern haircut.  While Kraftwerk were definitely not reconnecting with the darker past of their nation the seductive and unearthly futuristic elements of their music certainly inspired a young person to consider imagine a wholly different world.

Santana - 'Abraxas' / Miles Davis - Bitches Brew'
Both these records make me think about the idea of a Madonna.  A woman that is powerful, demanding of idealization, that men would submit to without a second thought.  Perhaps this is why I was so taken by the image of Grace Jones on covers like 'Nightclubbing' or Betty Davis in her 'Nasty Gal' album.


Jonnine:
Soisong - 'qXn948s'
An amazing object. I like the idea of destroying a beautiful package to get at what's inside.

Roxy Music - 'Country Life'
I compare all nightclubs to this image and they all fall short. Roxy Music’s world is wonderful.

Grace Jones - 'Nightclubbing'
One of the sexiest androgynous images - the shine on her chest is mesmerizing.