Hamilton Leithauser, frontman of The Walkmen, and Rostam Batmanglij, ex-keyboardist of indie favourites Vampire Weekend, have collaborated on a raw, genuine album that sings of heartbreak and spirit. Rostam’s influence is obvious, with clear lines drawn between I Had A Dream… and Vampire Weekend’s most recent record, Modern Vampires of the City – especially in the style of the basslines and piano accompaniments that run throughout the album. This moves in harmony with Leithauser’s new direction, in comparison with his earlier work, towards an Americana style.

Hamilton Leithauser’s soulful voice compliments his laments perfectly. The theme of the record becomes clear from the first song ‘A 1000 Times’ as he sings, “I had a dream that you were mine / I’ve had that dream a thousand times”. The record explores this concept further as it goes on, swaying from the delicate finger-picking of ‘In A Blackout’ to the folksy twang of guitar slides and harmonica on ‘You Ain’t That Young Kid’.

Highlights of the album include ‘Rough Going (I Don’t Let Up)’, with soulful, raw vocals that highlight the emotion that stands behind the song, as Leithauser pleads to rekindle a romance. The rumbling sax solo brings life, jumbled with shouts and claps, creating an unmistakably close atmosphere. The conclusion to the record, ‘1959’, features beautifully soft vocals from Angel Deradoorian amongst tinkling keys and fluttering strings. It differs slightly from the style established by the rest of the album but effortlessly gives a finishing point as the music fades out along to Deradoorian’s “One day, I’ll stop to listen”. ‘I Had A Dream…’ is lively, full of love and contemplates with an unexpected flair.

Isobel Moloney

(Image:prettymuchamazing)