AMERICAN AQUARIUM

Anywhereoff Hatteras Island, Chicamacomico sounds made up, like some wine-drunk incantation ormaybea tongue twister—try to sayit ten times fast.But as aformerlife-saving stationbuilt in 1874ontheOuter Banksof North Carolina,the nameisperhaps the perfect metaphorand titlefor AmericanAquarium’s ninth studio album.The Old North State istattooed on the bones of front man BJ Barham, who hasnever lived more than two hours from his hometownin Reidsville. But, more so, whatbetter to represent an album about loss than a place builtto save the lives of shipwreckedmariners and passengers?Song as a sort ofsalvationis something Barhamhopes thisalbumcan dofor the band’sestablished andgrowing fanbase.Sometimes when we’redrowning, musickeepsus afloat.“When these massivelifechanges happen, we feel like we are theonly onesfacing these problems,” Barhamsaid. “I hope this album serves as a salve to anyonewhohas experienced this sort of loss over the last few years. I hope it makes them feel a littleless isolated anddisconnected. I want them to know that someone out there is goingthrough the exact same shit and that they are not alone.”With tracks tackling personal loss—the loss of his motherandgrandmother, theloss of a child, the loss of youth and time and the creative spark that driveshim—Chicamacomicofeels stripped down and bare-boned in its instrumentationcompared toearlier records.Theorchestrationis dialed backleavingthe lyricsto standnakedfrontand center. It’s reminiscent ofRockingham, Barham’s 2016 solo album, and this may bein part a result of producer Brad Cook, who produced both albums as well as theband’s2015 record Wolves. But it’s likely more a sign of the maturing sound and expanding scope of a songwriter nowfully comfortable and confident in his own skin.“When you are young, you want to play everything loud and fast and I think thatcomes, at least in part, from uncertainty. I hadn’t fully found my voice back in those early days so the louder and faster the songs werethe less chance someone could actually hear what I was saying. I’m not afraid of the lyrics sitting way out front anymore because I am confident in the songwriting. The band can still cut loose and take over a song, but they aren’t expected to do all the heavy lifting these days.”Few songwriters swing the hammer as hard and precise as Barham and it is a testament to the humility and trust of his bandmates that they take the back seat and allow his story telling to drive us home. With a heavy tour the rest of the year and a back list of brass-knuckled bangers, each will surely have their fair share of time at the wheel.But as for this record, be thankful for the subtlety, for the stillness and for the quiet. For ten songs, Chicamacomico will hold your head above water.

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