Hamilton Leithauser announces his debut solo album, Black Hours, via Ribbon Music, inaugurating a new chapter in an already remarkable career that included being front man of the Walkmen. The album brings Leithauser full circle and then some, from lonely midwinter piano and vocals sessions to a loud, live rock ‘n’ roll group and back again. It features Leithauser with a slew of talented collaborators including Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), Paul Maroon (The Walkmen), Morgan Henderson (Fleet Foxes) and Richard Swift (The Shins and solo). The album showcases Leithauser in his most passionate, personal, and free state. In its orchestrated rhythms, dynamic vocals, and generous production, Black Hours speaks from one booming voice. The instrumentation provides muscle and texture; Maroon covers a wide range of acoustic and electric guitars as well as grand piano; Batmanglij switches between guitar, harpsichord, piano, bass, and harmonica; Henderson takes the marimba and upright bass; and Swift lays down impressive drums on seven tracks. Amber Coffman from the Dirty Projectors provides backing vocals on several numbers, and even Hugh McIntosh of Leithauser’s first band, the Recoys, returns to the drum stool for a pair of songs.
