HTRK, Marry Me Tonight: In Memory Of Sean Stewart

Marry Me Tonight starts with the song called “HA,” which is simple electronic/analogue drum thuds (HTRK have no drummer other than a machine, and Johnine banging a drum with one stick) and heavy bass. . . then you hear little flecks of Rowland’s guitar twang in there. It’s very simple but effective.

Then Jonnine comes in with her detached Aussie accent asking, Can I be out of line/Can we get back together, which is followed by a cold and emotionless game of cat and mouse. The basic plot is that of an ex-girlfriend making promises and demands, without a conscience or consequences. The name of the song is fitting, because it’s actually quite funny, and definitely one of the best of the entire album.

The second track, “Rentboy,” is about exactly what you think it is. It’s another cold and emotionless tale, but this time involving a male prostitute and his John (or Jonnine if you want to apply a gender, although it’s written from a genderless perspective). The title of the album comes from a line in this song. It’s a great track!

Other standouts are “Waltz Real Slow,” “Panties,” “Disco,” and my favorite, “Fascinator.” This song is just awesome, definitely the most emotional song on the album, even showing a little vulnerability which goes against the grain of the rest of the album (which is why I like it so much). Story-wise, it tries to maintain the aforementioned aloofness, but obsessive lust and longing take over. I love the looping guitar feedback that surprisingly carries the melody, much like “The Friend Catcher” by The Birthday Party.

I will say, Marry Me Tonight is a very sexy and hypnotic album, and the more I listen to it, the better it gets. HTRK show a lot of promise for a newer band, and have aligned themselves with a good pedigree of colleagues and collaborators. Like many of their Melbourne forefathers, they uprooted themselves to be sacrificial lambs in the music scenes of Berlin and London, where they were in the midst of gaining some momentum and credibility. However, with sacrifice there can be casualties . . . and unfortunately HTRK know this sort of tragedy all too well.

On March 18, 2010, bassist and founder Sean Stewart passed away in London at the young age of 29. There has been speculation about the cause, but the band made an official statement on their website confirming that Sean unfortunately committed suicide. Very sad, very tragic. The future of HTRK remains uncertain, which is a real shame, because they were truly showing some promise.

R.I.P. Sean Stewart: February 6, 1981 – March 18, 2010

Marry Me Tonight was released via Blast First Petite and Fire Records and can be ordered via the band’s website. In a May 21 MySpace blog post, the band announced that a new studio album will be coming with all bass lines by Sean. Stay tuned for more upcoming details.

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