I’m at that stage where I can feel myself slowly becoming obsessed with an album and it’s this brand new one from Sydney’s The Aerial Maps.
The band first came to my attention a couple of years ago when they released their debut LP In The Blinding Sunlight, which I remember loving but after a couple of weeks when whoever it was in the office had a copy stopped bringing it in I kind of just forgot about them.
Which is what makes The Sunset Park even more exciting for me. It’s like reuniting with an old acquaintance I really got along with, who in turn introduces me to someone who is equally as friendly, but far better looking. That has never happened to me, but I imagine that is what it would feel like.
This record absolutely must be listened to from start-to-finish. The narrative that links all the songs together is one a fucking ripper. The words lyricist Adam Gibson uses are just brilliant; ocassionally too sentimental, but always at just the right time. Besides, don’t we all get too sentimental a lot of the time? Before we go on any further; yes, it’s predominantly “spoken word”. But do not let that put you off.
It’s the inherent Australiana that appeals so much to me, it sounds like the most fucking beautiful VB ad you’ve ever seen (I mean that to be a compliment) and while the broadness of Gibson’s Aussie accent and general ockerism will undoubtedly put many people off, I can’t get enough. His descriptions of Gold Coast living are sun-battered, stark, depressing yet 100 percent relatable (as someone who’s spent more than his fair share of time down in those parts). I don’t know Freo nearly as well, but the vibe is certainly there.
Musically the record is equally triumphant; Simon Holmes’ production and both his and Sean Kennedy’s (and myriad others) playing really bring these stories to life. I don’t actually like all of the music on here, but I can’t find anything that isn’t completely suitable for the content Gibson puts across.
As a whole, the title track is probably your best bet if you’re lazy and can’t do the whole thing in one hit. Though I recommend you make the time.
If you’ve got a spare eight-and-a-half-minutes then The Things That Make You Happy is a pretty awesomely depressing diatribe and if you’ve got another then Beer Glorious Beer is an equally annoying and thrilling tale of revenge which sees Gibson’s lyrics at their peak, as he recalls the legendary beer truck in the Tweed River and ties it into his narrative.
I also very strongly recommend this B-Side from their The Sunset Park single. Lighthouse Beach.
I can’t wait to listen to this record again every time it finishes, but I don’t want to listen to it too much because, like a good book, I never want the story to end. I’m really enjoying picking up little pieces of the story here and there. I can’t wait to listen to it when I’m in the middle of one of those useless fucking metaphysical hangovers where I feel there’s no point to life - I get the feeling this record will fucking destroy me.
Click the link above the cover pic to listen. Buy it if you like it.
