ENG: Lawrence of Arabia - Chant darling
Skrivet av Carl Davidsson
MusikrecensionArtist: Lawrence of Arabia
Album: Chant darling
Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock/Soul
Releasedatum: 2010
Betyg: 
My orientation within music from New Zealand is not far from embarrassing, but stumbling upon a new album from Lawrence Arabia (former member of the Brunettes, and as a bass player for Okkervil River and with Feist) makes me feel that I might reconsider the idea of New Zeeland being nothing more than Flight of the Conchords.
Lawrence Arabia (a pseudonym for James Milne) is a, for me, formerly unknown name. But I can assure you that I regret that it took me so long to find out about him, this album is the best I have heard in a long time.
The songs spens over indie pop from the 2000s, falsetto choirs and trumpets sounding like the 60s, open guitar tunings that reminds me of Nick Drake, an awkward piano, a moaning violin, and the steel guitar on “I’ve Smoked Too Much” that gives me Gram Parsons vibes. It is all a fucking beautiful, melancholic mixture.
I might as well admit it right now, I immediately get swept of my feet hearing well performed vocal harmonies.
It is clear that the touring with Canadian singer/songwriter Feist has delicately influenced him while making this album. The rhythms and the melodies on the vocals and the trumpets remind me a lot of her album ”The Reminder”. I should add that I still have periods exclusively listening to that album a couple of times a year.
It is easy to see why he chooses another road than the accompanying one though. I have seldom heard so many ideas so logically blend into a fully cohesive album, the way he manages to avoid the trap of making the songs sprawled and hard-listened is nothing but impressive. And frankly, he has so much more to give than Will Sheff (from Okkervil River).
A lovely start of the new music year, and I am sure this album will be remembered when the year is summed up as well. If not a masterpiece, this is at least the album of the first half month of this year.
Höjdpunkter på skivan: The Beautiful Crew, Apple Pie Bed, I've Smoked Too Much, Eye A, Fine Old Friends, and so on...
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