Lawrence Arabia in Seattle

November 30, 2012 at 8:53 pm | Posted in Music, Previews, Seattle | Leave a comment
Tags: Ballard, Conor Byrne, Lawrence Arabia

Back in July James Milne aka Lawrence Arabia quietly released the best psychedelic pop record of the year. The Sparrow is his third album under the Lawrence Arabia moniker. A complex record that can be dark and moody like a Scott Walker album, pensive and melodically playful like a Harry Nilsson one, full of double entendres like something from Cole Porter, and packed with gorgeous string and brass arrangements reminiscent of Burt Bacharach. I’ve fallen in love with the Sparrow over the last few months. It’s a record full of haunting pleasures that increases its hold on you with each listen.

Lawrence Arabia makes a very rare appearance tomorrow (Saturday, 1 December) at the Conor Byrne in Ballard. I doubt he will have a string section with him, but Milne’s songs should able to stand on their own without the fancy trimmings of the album.

full album stream: Lawrence Arabia – The Sparrow