Albert Hammond Jr. Gets Melodic on New Single “More to Life”

Albert Hammond Jr. is back with his latest single, a sharp, melodic track titled “More to Life.”

The Strokes lead guitarist’s “first full L.A. production,” the track is bright and energetic. Squeaky, fastidious fret work and steady, subdued piano chords give the song an almost power-pop feel, recalling the spoils of an Angles-era Strokes (and it’s no wonder it bears a resemblance—Gus Oberg, the album’s producer and engineer, was at the helm of the “More to Life” production).

Hammond expressed in a statement that the track was “recorded live through a collection of analog gear, Prince’s mojo (he lived in this studio in the late-’80s) and our ever-present digital medium that held all these beautiful melodies.”

The song is accompanied by a video featuring experimental footage from a student film Hammond directed in the ‘90s (which just so happens to star a college-aged Jason Ritter).

Hammond released his fourth studio album Francis Trouble in March of last year and the standalone single “Fast Times” in February. Plans for future releases have yet to be announced.

It’s been an active week in the Strokesian universe. Wedneday, Hammond Jr.’s Strokes bandmate Julian Casablancas released a new track with his side project, The Voidz, and the band is set to headline Governors Ball later this week.

Check out the new single and Hammond’s 2015 Daytrotter Session below.