Event

Anywhereoff Hatteras Island, Chicamacomicosounds made up, like somewine-drunk incantation ormaybea tongue twister—try to sayit ten times fast.But as a former life-saving station built in 1874 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the name is perhaps the perfect metaphor and title for American Aquarium’s ninth studio album.

The Old North State is tattooed 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 massive life changes happen, we feel like we are theonly ones facing these problems,” Barhamsaid. “I hope this album serves as a salve to anyone who has 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 going through the exact same shit and that they are not alone.”

With tracks tackling personal loss—the loss of his mother and grandmother, the loss of a child, the loss of youth and time and the creative spark that drives him—Chicamacomico feels stripped down and bare-boned in its instrumentation compared to earlier records.The orchestration is dialed back leaving the lyrics to stand naked front and center. It’s reminiscent of Rockingham, 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 expandingscope of a songwriternowfully comfortable and confidentin his own skin.

“When you are young, you want to play everything loud and fast and I think that comes, 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 hearwhat 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 atestament to the humility andtrustofhisbandmatesthat they take the back seatandallowhis storytellingto drive us home. With a heavy tour the rest of the year and a backlist ofbrass-knuckled bangers, eachwillsurely have their fair share of timeatthe wheel.

But as for this record, be thankful for the subtlety, for the stillness and for thequiet. For ten songs, Chicamacomico will hold your head above water.