Chicamacomico [Lavender Marble]

Description

Few songwriters swing the hammer as hard and precise as Barham.

Anywhereoff Hatteras Island, Chicamacomicosounds made up, like some wine–drunk incantation or maybe a tongue twistertry to sayit ten times fast. But as aformer life–saving station built in 1874 on the Outer Banksof North Carolina, the nameis perhaps the perfect metaphor and title for American Aquariums ninth studio album.

The Old North State is tattooed on the bones of front man BJ Barham, who has never lived more than two hours from his hometownin Reidsville. But, more so, what better to represent an album about loss than a place built to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers?Song as a sort of salvationis something Barham hopes this albumcan dofor the bands established and growing fanbase.Sometimes when were drowning, music keepsus afloat.

With tracks tackling personal lossthe loss of his motherandgrandmother, the loss of a child, the loss of youth and time and the creative spark that drives himChicamacomicofeels stripped down and bare–boned in its instrumentationcompared to earlier records. The orchestrationis dialed back,leavingthe lyrics to standnaked front and center. Its reminiscent of Rockingham, Barhams 2016 solo album, and this may be in part a result of producer Brad Cook, who produced both albums as well as the bands 2015 record Wolves. But its likely more a sign of the maturing sound and expanding scope of a songwriter now fully comfortable and confident in his own skin.

Tracklist
1. Chicamacomico
2. Little Things
3. Just Close Enough
4. The First Year
5. Built To Last
6. Wildfire
7. The Things We Lost Along The Way
8. Waking Up The Echoes
9. The Hardest Thing
10. All I Needed