7/10

While his formative outfit The Strokes have had an undeniable impact on the international indie-rock scene for the last two decades, the band's guitarist Albert Hammond Jr has always used his solo venture to push the boundaries of what many would expect of him. Throughout his solo ambitions, he has always ventured towards a hybrid sound that borrows from his initial aesthetics while keeping an experimental edge within his direction. And after the rousing response to his 2018 LP 'Francis Trouble', he returns with his fifth solo album 'Melodies On Hiatus', a record that invites a diverse array of intentions throughout.

Collaborating with Simon Wilcox for the majority of this new collection, a songwriter best known for his work in the pop sphere, 'Melodies On Hiatus' feels far more adventurous and ambitious than anything Hammond Jr has produced before. With renowned rapper GoldLink making a guest appearance on the opening effort '100-99', it sets a tone for the record ahead that this is not a traditional offering from the artist at the helm. Instead we are treated to a sprawling nineteen-track release that branches its sound out as often as possible, making for an incredibly eclectic listen from start to finish.

While there are still plenty of nods towards the older Albert Hammond Jr sound littered throughout, 'Melodies On Hiatus' is a far more inventive and innovative full-length than we could have initial thought of. With such a varied yet succinct approach to almost every element on this new LP, it feels like he is finally breaking free of The Strokes mantra and creating something truly unique to himself.