IN his first solo effort since rehab, Albert Hammond Jr has created an EP worthy of 2013’s radio hits with AHJ.

The five track release is packaged up nicely for fans of The Strokes- recorded in Hammond’s studio in New York, Casablancas regularly popped in to give his input and long-time collaborator Gus Oberg produced the album.

Featuring futuristic-riffs and guitar-heavy melodies, the EP is a snapshot of Hammond’s best work, in his own words. An album is to follow this release, but Hammond wanted to get this EP out there first and foremost.

Opener St Justice is catchy with Hammond’s vocals outstandingly good. Strange Tidings is early-Strokes-esque with its guitar-driven layers and repetitive soul.

Carnal Cruise is all about the noughties, again with stand-out vocals from Hammond. It’s as if he’s coined his craft over the last decade and unleashed the masterpiece tone and buttery vocal on this record.

This brings us nicely onto Rude Customer which brings in some nice fresh elements including some futuristic tones that were introduced in the opening track- that said, it’s bridge and chorus are vintage Strokes with the guitar capturing your ears over everything else that is going on in this busy song.

Finally Cooker Ship ends the release. This has a 2013 Kings of Leon type melody and as Hammond starts to sing its his New York accent that distinguishes this track away from Kings of Leon’s recent release Supersoaker. It does, of course, introduce the infamous Strokes guitar pieces which wash it up as a perfect EP closer.