Hello London’s “Three Hands” is a warm and personal album from Buffalo songwriter James Froese. Across ten songs and just over 38 minutes, the record gives Froese plenty of space to explore the guitar-driven sound that has been at the heart of the Hello London project. Froese has been making music since childhood, and Hello London began as a way for him to put his home-recorded demos out into the world. Over the years, the project has grown through a series of releases that have allowed him to develop his own approach to alternative rock, indie rock and emo. “Three Hands” feels like a natural continuation of that work.
Part of the appeal here comes from how personal the project is. Froese has written and recorded much of the music himself, which gives Hello London a very direct identity. His influences include alternative rock names such as R.E.M. and The Smiths, along with emo artists like Mayday Parade, Brandtson and The Promise Ring. Those influences help explain the balance between melodic guitar music and the more emotional side of his songwriting. The album also follows a busy stretch for Hello London. “The Changing Tide” arrived in 2024, followed by “The Shoreline Sessions” in 2025. Froese then returned with the single “Hourglass” in January 2026 before releasing “Three Hands”. Looking at that sequence of releases, it is clear that he has continued writing and recording rather than sitting still creatively.
I enjoyed the album for its honest and unpretentious character. It feels like music made because the songs needed to be written, rather than music built around trying to fit into a particular formula. I also like the fact that Hello London has been allowed to grow gradually, with each release adding another part to Froese’s story as a songwriter. “Three Hands” should appeal to listeners who enjoy alternative and indie rock with an emotional side. It is also a good place to start if you are new to Hello London and want to get familiar with James Froese’s work. The album is easy to spend time with, and its relatively short running time makes it especially suitable for listening from beginning to end.
If you enjoy “Three Hands”, make sure you follow Hello London and keep up with the project’s future releases. Add the album to your playlist, save the songs that catch your attention, and give the record another listen when you have some quiet time. Hello London is still developing, and “Three Hands” is a good reason to keep an eye on where James Froese takes the project next.
