THE news that The Walkmen were taking an “extreme hiatus” was a cruel reminder that some of the greatest bands never achieve acclaim.
Idolised by fans and revered by their peers (Elbow’s Guy Garvey is a massive supporter), The Walkmen bowed out on a critical high, with reviews of the magnificent Heaven reflecting its uncluttered genius. Now lead singer Hamilton Leithauser has released Black Hours, a solo album, reflecting on the band’s break-up and his place in a post-Walkmen world.
Leithauser’s booming, impassioned voice, which helped to define The Walkmen’s sound, gives Black Hours a Walkmen feel, but the powerful presence of Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij and Fleet Foxes’s Morgan Henderson move the album closer to the centre-ground. Highlights include The Smallest Splinter, a hymn of yearning; Alexandra, a rollicking love song; and the defiant I Retired.
It’s difficult to discern from Black Hours whether Leithhauser feels energised or saddened; this thoughtful record suggests he isn’t even sure himself.
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