Too often in pop music, side projects end up as lower than average, self-indulgent and uninteresting diversions from the day job. They've become so commonplace now, that the announcement of such a venture is usually met with a casual roll of the eyes.
Albert Hammond Jr. has perhaps not yet got the full credit he deserves for his solo voyage but in between contributing to records for New York indie titans The Strokes, he's still managed to build a career as a gifted and credible solo artist in his own right. However his latest, 'Momentary Masters', is his first in seven years and while it doesn't quite scale the kaleidoscopic heights of 2008's '¿Como Te Llama?' it's still rich with moments to savour.
Opener and lead single 'Born Slippy' is a stupendously good example of Hammond's famed guitar chops and a reminder of why he's such an integral part of The Stroke's legacy. It's a collage of spiralling riffs and twitchy rhythms which lead into a chorus of beautifully layered harmonies. From here, the listener knows they're in good hands.
'Razor's Edge' and 'Drunched In Crumbs' are both powered by the sort of frenzied, driving beats that will no doubt make Hammond's upcoming live shows an absolute riot. Tight and focused one minute, wild and schizophrenic the next, nothing ever quite sits still for too long. This will most certainly be a good thing for some but others will find the zany dynamic a tad too eccentric.
The tracks that break that mould are the most satisfying and rewarding, though, which brings us to the sublime cover of 'Don't Think Twice'. By definition, there's not much original about recording a cover, nothing more so than a Bob Dylan cover, but Hammond's choice of subtle instrumentation and brittle vocal is nothing short of a masterstroke here. 'Coming To Getcha' is another track that benefits from a more restrained approach, burning slowly during the verses, giving its chorus added power. On the opposite end of the spectrum there's 'Side Boob' which is almost as silly as it's title. Luckily it's saved by an epic, propulsive crescendo.
Despite the pristine production and supercharged atmosphere, this feels like his most personal set and where the music falls into more predictable territory, it's kept buoyant by Hammond's emotional warmth and his wistful, contemplative lyrics. It may lack the compactness of 'Yours To Keep' (even at ten tracks) and the more colourful musical palette of his sophomore effort but that doesn't stop 'Momentary Masters' from being one hell of a ride.
7/10
Words: Luke Winstanley
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