(Glassnote)The Walkmen were a bug-eyed,curveball-throwing New York outfit of the 00s whose fairy godmother never quite outgunned fate. With the band on hiatus, raw-throated lead singer Hamilton Leithauser found himself studio-bound with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij, and game for a change. The result is this unusual duo record that mixes sax—laden Irish bar doo-wop (Rough Going (I Dont Let Up)),analogue synths and harmonica (You Ain’t That Young Kid), banjos (Peaceful Morning) and Leonard Cohen-ish chanson (In a Black Out). The just-so production and mastery of the American songbook is pure Rostam, and while Leithauser anchors these tale-songs with a plethora (excess, overabundance) of vocal moods: gargles,croons and yelling.
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Source: theguardian.com