Lawrence Arabia, the savant-like songwriting alter ego of New Zealander James Milne, is a former member of The Brunettes, The Ruby Suns, and one time touring member of Okkervil River. Chant Darling, his full length Bella Union debut, melds irreverent lyrics with West Coast melodies and lush harmonies, playing like a modern take on the work of classic popsmiths like Jonathan Richman, John Lennon and Brian Wilson.
Hewn in large part from James' gradual relocation to London and recorded over 18 months in a studio in Stockholm, three flats in London, a garden shed in Port Chalmers, a car club in Wellington and a studio in Auckland, Chant Darling signals the emergence of a weighty new voice straight from the new pop frontier of the southern hemisphere.