James Milne’s is the puppet-master behind the psychedelic dreamscapes and melodious harmonies that drive his alter-ego, Lawrence Arabia. Using this pseudonym, the seasoned Kiwi musician undertakes an introspective journey in his latest album, The Sparrow, as he explores experiences with both success and failure. Though his style is certainly an anomaly today, his experimentation with pop melodies have drawn comparisons to idols of the 1960′s: The Beatles and The Zombies. Though it’s certainly a lofty comparison, Lawrence Arabia does produce a similar diversity of sounds and has plenty of creativity in his music. “The Listening Times”, a song about the deep-thinking solitude that comes in the early morning after a night out, is accompanied by an eerie and simplistic music video that is definitely worth your time. I’ve also provided his song “Traveling Shoes” below; accompanied by some excellent violin-playing, this song illustrates a different variation of Lawrence Arabia’s style.
