Album Review: Monkey

Al Park is an integral part of the Christchurch music scene, woven deep into the fabric of the city’s musical history. From his early days in the punk scene, through to packing houses with either Louie and the Hot Sticks or with The Latter Day Sinners, manning the counter at the iconic Echo records or behind the bar at his legendary venue Al’s Bar, and being a champion of many of the exponents of the “Lyttelton Sound”, Al has contributed immeasurable amounts of time, energy, and soul into his passion for music.

One For The Dog One For The Cat and One For The People With A Monkey On Their Back is Al’s new album, affectionately known as Monkey, for short. It was recorded “in the wild lands of the South Island”, at Sublime Studio, and produced by Dick Picton. The album is described as “Reflecting the rolling hills and big skies, long dirt roads and midnight stars”… I’d say that sums it up beautifully.

Album opener is called All The Love I Have… and we’re off! A belter of an opening track, joyous, boisterous, and a solid, stomping beat. An instant classic with suitably hooky, singalong vocals. A dancefloor filler par excellence. Gonna Have A Party has a more laid-back vibe, redolent of afternoons in the sun, sharing brews and tunes with good friends. Another nicely catchy chorus, and a super slinky sax solo.

A darker mood drives Get Vandalised, a big pounding beat carrying the song. This one makes me strongly suspect, by this point, that this man is incapable of writing non-catchy choruses. Short, sweet, sassy fun. Hey Elmore has superb post-punk sensibilities, I felt it has a very cool Talking Heads vibe, and it’s a fun song. Lyrically berating the hapless subject Elmore, an errant sound engineer who seems to have a few issues. A saucy guitar solo rounds things off.

Next, it’s the album’s first single, Twilight Hour, a soft beauty of a song, mellow and lilting. A song of love, growth, and reminiscence. Don’t Be Shy is also nicely mellow, but with a very different feel. A languidly sultry song, an entreaty to a lover, and there goes that smoky saxophone again. Don’t Tell Me Your Story continues the reflective feel of this section of the album, a soft bluesy song, with a very tasty guitar solo leading it out. An eight and a half minute epic is up next, Signpost is a cautionary tale of a doomed relationship, with some magnificent guitar moments… watch out for the signs.

And lastly, a beautifully written and performed song, Careless Love is a sweet song of longing, soft and compelling, a perfect way to end this musical journey.

Al has delivered an excellent album, with both softness and strength, light and darkness, boldness and beauty. A superb craftsman, at the top of his game. Bravo.