will help satiate hunger for that lo-fi garage rock sound. Indeed, the first three offerings on his new album suggest he's gone out of his way to channel bandmate Julian Casablanca's distinctive sound. It's not until
GFC
that Hammond settles into his own subtle, vocals.
That aside, the first half of this album could well be a collection of Strokes B-sides. Not their best work, but in keeping with the band's signature sound. Until you stumble across the stripped-back beat of
Victory at Monterey
_ the first original-sounding track. From there, things take a marked turn for the better.
Seven-minute instrumental
Spooky Couch
is a softly enchanting track that reveals Hammond is more musically diverse than his previous efforts have suggested. With the rollicking piano of
G Up
and the subtle reggae jam of
Miss Myrtle
, he appears to have experienced a burst of experimental inspiration, resulting in the album's best offerings.
Joanna Hunkin