In The Works – The Walkmen

How's that new album coming along?

Forget about the glamour, the danger, the adoration – for some, rock ‘n’ roll is one long hard slog. “You’re paid so far below minimum wage it’s atrocious for the amount of man hours you put into this thing,” laughs Hamilton Leithauser. The Walkmen are back in the studio – something that normally fills them with dread – but this time round it seems that the New York band are on a sound footing. “We were sitting in the studio late one night just talking and we said that this has been really weird because it’s been the easiest writing we’ve ever had. I have no explanation for it. I really love it because I think we’ve captured something fantastic here.”

Phil Eck is overseeing the sessions, and the introduction of a new voice has changed the way The Walkmen approach making music. “It’s worked out pretty damn well,” observes Leithauser. “We haven’t had any real clashes yet. It’s like having another voice there, because after all these years of just the five of us it’s kind of nice to have an outside opinion. It really does change things around, it’s really nice.”

Not that Eck is intent on becoming known as Mr. Nice in the studio. “He just won’t give you a fucking inch on your performance,” the frontman explains. “We never realised how out of rhythm and out of tune we were before.”

Working in Seattle, the band initially began working on a series of slow jams before the adrenalin kicked in and the pace cranked up. “I do think we’ve found a new spark in our fast stuff. It doesn’t have to be as aggressive as it was in the past. I don’t know – it sounds a little more charming somehow. We’re going to be way more rock than we ever have on the record.”

Words by Robin Murray

Title: TBC
Producer: Phil Ek
Recorded: Seattle
Release Date: May 2012
Songs Include: ‘We Can’t Be Beat’, ‘Dream Boat’, ‘The Witch’
Interesting Fact: The band were forced to throw out the first draft of the record after realising that each and every guitar was out of tune.

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