Albert Hammond Jr. – Momentary Masters
3.5/5
Best known as the guitarist from New York post-punk revival/indie rock band The Strokes, Albert Hammond Jr. is also a prolific solo artist. Releasing his third solo album this week titled Momentary Masters, Hammond’s years with the Strokes come through on the new record, with clear comparisons between the two; slick guitar rhythms, new wave dance beats, and indie pop vocals are the foundation for the record.
Using the basics as the building blocks for Momentary Masters, Hammond infuses hints of funk, disco, and ‘80s-sythn elements into the songs. Opening track and the lead single “Born Slippy” and second track “Power Hungry” send the collection in a retro-direction, but not before crashing into the alternative-dance rock track “Caught By My Shadow” and its irresistible guitar hook and gelled-back demeanour.
The Strokes latest record Comedown Machine was a more rhythm-guitar/synth based project, and the influence from the record trickled into Hammond’s solo work. Replace The Strokes’ lead vocalist Julian Casablancas and instead fill it with Hammond and you can hear the similarity on “Coming Getcha”, and on the powerfully energetic “Razors Edge”.
Immediately reminiscent of the Strokes’ debut album This Is It, “Touché”, “Drenched in Crumbs”, and “Side Boob” revive the electrifying, distortion-dampened sound of earlier work, but with a pulsating, contemporary flare that sharpenes the edges of Momentary Masters.
Of course, most often when a musician strays away from his full-time band to create a solo record, there is some attempt at creating their own unique sound and style, but Hammond embraces his roots and instead puts a twist on his usual Strokes project to produce his third full length.
Stream the full album via Consequence of Sound.
