Albert Hammond Jr has either just woken from a sleep of Rip Van Winkle proportions or smoked a bong with the equivalent potency of a Camberwell carrot.
On a break from live duties at home in Manhattan, today his lazy New York drawl is lazier than a slothful Homer Simpson on National Lazy Day, proving almost impossible to decipher. Happily, as our conversation continues he becomes increasingly animated, especially on the subject of the festival circuit.
“Such amazing bills,” he declares, “I couldn’t believe how lucky we were when I saw some of the line-ups; Cold War Kids, Bright Eyes, Brian Wilson, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Magic Numbers, B52s. It’s amazing to be on the same stage as these bands.”
The success of 2006’s Yours To Keep established Hammond firmly in the ranks of credible artists. While The Strokes hiatus continues indefinitely – they are not splitting up (all caps on the press release) – he has brought his infectious brand of indie-pop on the road. So how does trading his wares as a solo artist contrast with The Strokes experience?
“I try not to compare,” he says. “It’s like comparing who do you love more, your mom or your dad. They’re different and each can be a unique buzz or a unique high. I’ve had the best times of my life in both.”
The 2006 missive from band manager Ryan Gentles stating the band would be taking a “much needed break” seemed to imply burnout, but Hammond disagrees.
“I guess we needed some time to figure things out. We have the luxury of being able to take time to focus. We didn’t just want to go into the studio and make another record without adding something different to it.”
The band’s 2005 Oxegen show was blighted by the performance of an obviously inebriated Julian Casablancas. Many bands go through an indulgent phase from which they emerge, but when queried on The Strokes’ status Hammond is philosophical.
“I imagine in life you have very different phases and I don’t know what phase I’m in, let alone what the band is in as a whole. Everyone seems to be pretty happy in life with what they’re doing and their girlfriends and children.”
And have his fellow Strokes been supportive of his solo efforts?
“Yeah, they’re very supportive.”
He bristles slightly, becoming almost defensive.
“I’m going into the studio in November to do a second record, and they’re very supportive.”
Yours To Keep had an impressive list of guests, and its follow-up is set to continue this trend.
“I really want Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes to come do something,” he enthuses. “I was also talking to Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices – Hammond is a long-time fan) and he mentioned doing some harmony with me or doubling my vocal, and that would be really cool.”
Sean Lennon was also amongst the high-profile contributors to the first record.
“From an outside point of view it’s like, ‘You used Sean Lennon’,” Albert says, “but to me we needed someone to play bass and he was just a guy I knew who could play really well. It’s what you do with your friends, you go see a movie or you play music.”
Meanwhile, Albert is back on the road in August and you can read about the band’s adventures on their highly amusing MySpace blog. One particlarly rib-tickling entry recounts a shopping trip by a pyjama-clad Hammond to Asda in Govan, Scotland. Surely not?
“I do it all the time,” he admits. “Everytime the bus stops, if I have to go to the hotel or buy something, I will be in my pyjamas. That wasn’t a one-time thing, that’s what I always do.”
Well that clears that up then.