BY MIKE METTLER – FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Albert Hammond Jr‘s fourth solo studio album, Francis Trouble, will be made available globally on March 9, 2018, via Red Bull Records. Fans can preorder the album and get an instant download of the track “Muted Beatings.”

Just in case you missed it from the other night, you can watch him perform “Muted Beatings” on Conan.

Francis Trouble explores a deeply personal topic – the stillborn death of Albert’s twin brother, Francis, and the lingering effects that event has had in his life and music. In November 1979, Hammond Jr’s mother, Claudia, miscarried. Although they rushed to the hospital, Claudia and Albert Hammond Sr. were told the baby was far too premature to live. However, Albert continued to grow inside of his mother undetected, until she was nearly 6 months pregnant.

Although he had always known of the existence of Francis, it was not until he was 36 years old that Hammond Jr learned from an aunt that part of Francis had remained behind in the womb and was born alongside him – a fingernail. With his music moving in a different path than before, Hammond Jr wondered if this new direction came from another avenue of himself, perhaps emanating from whatever he and the departed Francis had shared for the few short months they had together.

Albert Hammond Jr adjusts his highly personal view.

Taking a page from David Bowie, Hammond Jr observes, “What the music says may be serious, but as a medium, it should not be questioned, analyzed, or taken too seriously. I think it should be tarted up [and] made into a character, a parody of itself. The music is the mask the message wears and I, the performer, am the message.”

Working within this mentality, Hammond Jr created Francis Trouble, an homage to both the death of his twin and his own birth, as well as the complexities of identity that arise because of their intermingling. The number 36 became especially relevant, as he had learned more of Francis’s story at that age, and because he was born on the 9th day of the 4th month of the year. Significantly, the album is exactly 36 minutes long.

In celebration of Francis Trouble, Albert Hammond Jr will be on tour with The Killers, a pairing that kicked off at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 2. After a short break, Hammond Jr will cross the pond for a run overseas with Franz Ferdinand, followed by a U.S. headlining tour. A full list of dates can be found below.

Preorder Francis Trouble: https://ffm.to/francistrouble

Stream “Muted Beatings”: https://ffm.to/mutedbeatings

The SoundBard and Albert Hammond Jr outside The Smile on Bond Street in New York City, after discussing (of course!) the greatness of vinyl, on May 21, 2015.

ALBERT HAMMOND JR – TOUR DATES

2/02 Los Angeles CA @ STAPLES Center^
2/03 Las Vegas NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena^
2/05 Broomfield CO @ 1stBank Center^
2/06 Salt Lake City UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena^
2/13 Manchester UK @ Albert Hall*
2/14 Nottingham UK @ Rock City*
2/16 Newcastle Upon Tyne UK @ O2 Academy*
2/17 Glasgow UK @ O2 Academy*
2/19 Leeds UK @ O2 Academy*
2/20 Birmingham UK @ O2 Academy*
2/21 Bristol UK @ O2 Academy*
2/23 Cambridge UK @ Corn Exchange*
2/24 Brixton UK @ O2 Brixton Academy*
2/25 Brighton UK @ Brighton Dome*
2/27 Paris France @ Le Point Ephemere*
2/28 Amsterdam Netherlands @ Paradiso (Upstairs) *
3/01 London UK @ Dingwalls
3/06 San Francisco CA @ Great American Music Hall
3/07 West Hollywood CA @ Troubadour
3/08 Santa Ana CA @ Observatory
3/10 Phoenix AZ @ Flying Burrito Musical Fiesta
3/11 Santa Fe NM @ Meow Wolf
3/14 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/15 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/16 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/17 Austin TX @ SXSW
3/19 Dallas TX @ Tree’s
3/20 Houston TX @ White Oak Music Hall
3/21 New Orleans LA @ One Eyed Jacks
3/23 Atlanta GA @ Terminal West
3/24 Birmingham AL @ Saturn
3/25 Nashville TN @ Exit In
3/27 Washington DC @ U Street Music Hall
3/28 Brooklyn NY @ Brooklyn Steel
3/30 Philadelphia PA @ First Unitarian Church
4/01 Boston MA @ Middle East Downstairs
4/02 Montreal Canada @ L’astral
4/03 Toronto Canada @ The Horseshoe Tavern
4/05 Detroit Township MN @ Magic Bag
4/06 Chicago IL @ Bottom Lounge
4/07 St Paul MN @ Turf Club
4/10 Seattle WA @ The Crocodile
4/11 Vancouver Canada @ The Biltmore
4/12 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

^ w/ The Killers
* w/ Franz Ferdinand