Body of Work, released today, is Albert Hammond’s first album of new music in almost 20 years. Critics are calling it “his most rooted, reflective work to date” (Record Collector UK), which is quite a feat for the songwriter behind “The Air That I Breathe” (The Hollies), “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” (Tina Turner), and his own “It Never Rains in Southern California” (among many other global hits).
Stream and order “Body Of Work” HERE.
For the new album, Albert turned to longtime songwriting collaborator John Bettis with whom he wrote “One Moment in Time” for Whitney Houston. “I love working with him,” Albert says. “Everything is so creative, and we have so much respect for each other… and there is a chemistry.” Nowhere is that chemistry more apparent than in “Looking Back,” the new song and video accompanying the album’s release.
“Looking Back” reflects the environment it was created in. Recorded at Berlin’s famed Hansa studios following a tumultuous time in the artist’s life and against the backdrop of a pandemic, it has a timeless feel… modern, but retro, nostalgic, but looking towards the future. “Looking Back/ I cherish the sun that warmed my face / Looking Back/ I’m glad that I ran every losing race.”
Watch the Video for “Looking Back” HERE.
Albert explains, “People would think, ‘why are you glad that you lost?’ Well, because it’s the experience, isn’t it? And if you don’t do it, you don’t know if you’ll win or you’ll lose.”
Producer/multi-instrumentalist Mathias Roska was key to the creative process.
“Mathias had this idea to put me in the room with a mic and just sing the songs,” Albert explains, “because he wanted to get to know the songs.”
From there tracks were fleshed out through collaborative jams, resulting in flourishes like mellotron on “Gonna Save The World” and Mathias’ mesmerizing guitar solo on “Looking Back.”
Body of Work is the soundtrack of an extraordinary lifetime that goes from jagged, jolting opener “Don’t Bother Me Babe” through to the quiet, gentle, and contemplative “Goodbye LA,” touching on all points folk, alt. country, pop and balladry in-between.
“Listening to what we’ve achieved at the end,” Albert reflects, “I am just so grateful and happy that I was able to go through this incredible life experience.”
Body of Work is now an incredible album experience, shared by a timeless artist looking to bring a little light and enlightenment to the world.
“The world is in darkness because we don’t shine.”
Albert Hammond, 2024
