When The Walkmen announced their “extreme hiatus” at the back end of last year, we began to worry we might loose the talented New Yorkers forever. Luckily in 2014 they showed that whilst the band might not be going strong, the musicians within are still relentlessly creative and stunningly talented.Of course the man with the most pressure on his shoulders was frontman Hamilton Leithauser. As the spokesman for the band he carried with him into his solo career a sense of expectation, and on “Black Hours” he did not disappoint. He pulled off the tough balancing act of remaining loyal to his established fan base and taking his music into new directions with aplomb! Fans of The Walkmen need look no further than I Don’t Know or closing track The Smallest Splinter.
Those of us who wanted to see what makes him stand out as a solo artist though, were arguably treated even better. Gorgeous crooned-piano ballads, like 5AM & St Mary’s Country were equal parts Frank Sinatra and Tom Waits. Dylanish-country stompers like I Retired and the frankly bonkers run-away mine train feel of lead single Alexander. It was an album that had so much to give already, and yet hinted that even better might be to come. The Walkmen are dead long live The Walkmen!
The Fat Angel Sings 