Lawrence Arabia, better known as New Zealander James Milne wraps his bright baroque melodies together with a thick retro-60’s bow. “Apple Pie Bed” is the sugary pop sing along single that starts us off, and it’s got a jangling hook, and steady tambourine beat . The Lennonesque treat “Look Like A Fool” continues on this precious path of both desolate longing and sweet melody. “The Undesireables” features lush multi-layered vocal harmonies, and it’s perfectly hypnotic. You get some forgettable hometown shout out on “Auckland CBD Part Two,” but most of the album does it right and has lots of repeatable tracks, fans of Jim Noir and The Ruby Suns will love this. “The Crew Of The Commodore” is a psychedelic pop dreamscape worthy of Outrageous Cherry. The Kinks’ styled mid-tempo “I’ve Smoked Too Much” is another highlight here, that shows Milne takes his influences and songwriting seriously. It ends off with the effective Beach Boys “In My Room” styled clone “Dream Teacher.” A satisfying album that shows plenty of growth potential for Lawrence Arabia. Get the MP3 of “Apple Pie Bed” FREE from Amazon
“Apple Pie Bed” was directed by Luke Savage.