Lawrence Arabia

"We love each other. But we hate each other. We're afraid of each other. Because we want to screw each other."

I know him as the creator of the ever catchy 60s inspired Apple Pie Bed. You might know him as former member of the Brunettes, the Ruby Sun Band, or touring member of Okkervil River. I was slightly disheartened to learn that James Milne was not actually born a Lawrence Arabia...I was having a great time imagining the moment hippie parents Mr. & Mrs. Arabia realised naming their son Lawrence would be quite fun.

Chant Darling is the second album from Lawrence Arabia and was recorded partly in Stockholm, partly in London, partly in Auckland and partly in Wellington. A mongrel album. The more and more I think about the way I listen to music, the more I realise that I'm a words kid. Sure, if a track has a bangin' melody and some beautiful riffs I'll dig it. But ultimately, it only takes one striking lyric and I'll fall madly in love with anything. In the case of The Beautiful Young Crew, maybe there isn't much to what is said, but the little that IS said is quite memorable.

Meanwhile, don't you think he looks a bit like Josh Pyke? Or is it just the beard? Check out a recent live performance of Apple Pie Bed at a gallery.

Lawrence Arabia-The Beautiful Young Crew (zshare)

Ghoul

This is such a beautiful song. When I first heard it I thought it sounded a little like Bon Iver, but maybe a remix or something. But no. It's Ghoul! Now, don't get them confused with the U.S. death metal band Ghoul...because they're not the same. This is Ghoul, Sydney as they have come to be know. Hmmm...I don't know where the line gets drawn. Like, The Valentinos had to change their name because of a soul artist from the 1950s, Bobby Womack & The Valentinos. Obviously the confusion was just too great. So I would assume Ghoul will one day become Missing Ghoul or something equally ridiculous.

I digress. Like I said, Swimming Pool is a beautiful song. Eerie electronic minimalism builds up to a sensational guitar solo that comes out of no where and is just magnificent! Combine this with the previously mentioned falseto vocals of the Bon Iver-esque Ivan Vizintin that contains a whole heap of emotion and voila you have a perfect little poppet of a pop song that stands at a tiny 2:31.

The rest of their debut EP A Mouthful of Gold is a nice little 9-tracker that is short but sweet. S'cuse the cliche. And the best bit? Well it's free! Download it from their myspace. This is the way of the future people. I have a dream that one day all music will be free....

Ghoul-Swimming Pool (zshare)

Snob Scrilla

"Heartbreak Scorsese! I'll never change, I'll never change, I'll never change...."

There is really not enough hip hop on here....actually I don't think there is ANY hip hop. Unless you include Girl Talk, does he count? I'm not sure. Mostly I don't love hip hop but more and more lately the deep bass lines and heavy beats just really appeal to me. Maybe I'm pregnant.

Anyway, you've probably heard of Snob Scrilla who put out that track last year "There You Go Again" and played Parklife, Homebake and with Faker. I think he's sorta cool...born in California, came over here and just couldn't leave. Now he can be seen cruising round Netwown and making some nice beats and rhymes.

This is Mr. Scrilla's most recent (though not so) offering. Look, I'll be honest. I'm still trying to work out what a "Heartbreak Scorsese" actually is. I'm totally stumped. The best I can come up with is some sort of link between heartbreak and director Martin Scorsese who according to dictionary.com is "known for his psychologically complex films." Soooooo what I'm thinking is that a "Heartbreak Scorsese" is a person who over dramatises their loves and losses. Thoughts?

Snob Scrilla-Heartbreak Scorsese