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Hunters & Collectors' self-titled debut album (1983) receives praise in user reviews and discussions for its aggressive, innovative sound but divides opinions due to its abrasive style and inaccessibility.
### Sound Quality
Listeners describe the album as seething art funk with horrendous noise, gripping drama, and slithery funk, comparing it to a harder-edged Shriekback or less political Gang of Four. It's noted for being percussion-oriented with unusual instrumentation and primal vocals, delivering a musically abrasive, aggressive, and different experience that's very dramatic and visual live. One fan calls it their favorite for standing out as raw and original upon release.
### Build Quality
No direct user comments address physical build quality (e.g., pressing or packaging), though the Australian double-album version is highlighted as distinct from the UK/US single-disc edition produced by Mike Howlett, with utterly oblique lyrics credited collectively to the band.
### Reliability
Discussions lack mentions of reliability issues like playback problems or durability, focusing instead on the album's consistent intensity across versions.
### Strengths
- Innovative and powerful: Unremittingly bleak ensemble blending noise, drama, and funk; a fresh Australian response to bands like The Fall.
- Challenging appeal: Recommended for fans of noisy rock and rhythm; "quite good" overall with strong live presence.
- Two distinct versions offer variety, encouraging enthusiasts to seek both.
### Weaknesses
- Abrasive and hard to grasp: Musically aggressive and enigmatic, potentially off-putting; "beyond even the grasp of American New Wavers."
- Oblique lyrics and experimental nature make it challenging to "enjoy, if not understand."
### Overall Reputation
The album holds a cult status among fans for its raw, original edge in early 1980s post-punk/art-funk, though it's seen as an acquired taste rather than mainstream-friendly. Reviews position it as a high point of the band's early, noisier phase before more accessible later works.
English (US)