Lawrence Arabia, Martha Rose, Dj Jaakko Eino Kalevi at Monster Ronson's / Thursday, 22.09.2016

One of New Zealand’s finest songwriters, Lawrence Arabia delivers wry observations of contemporary life in deftly arranged pop vignettes. Born in the “Garden City” of Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1981 (the year the Springbok tour divided the country, and that The Clean debuted with the single Tally Ho!), a youthful James Milne served an illustrious indie-rock apprenticeship touring the US as bassist for Auckland-based pop group The Brunettes, and as drummer for Ryan McPhun’s Ruby Suns.

And then, as Reginald Dwight made way for the musical entity that was Elton John, and David Jones blossomed into David Bowie, so plain old James Milne ceded to the Übermensch that has become one of New Zealand’s finest contemporary songwriters and performers – the celebrated singer of songs that is Lawrence Arabia.

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Forming spiky, 60’s-influenced pop combo The Reduction Agents as a vehicle for his own blossoming songwriting, and simultaneously releasing The Dance Reduction Agents with the eponymous Lawrence Arabia in 2006, it became clear that a significant new talent had been unearthed.

Channelling the pop sensibilities of the Kinks’ Ray Davies, and combining them with classic West Coast sunshine pop, together with something altogether more offbeat, the two records were like different sides of the same coin – the former more conventional, the latter more eclectic, setting the tone for a musical career filled with intriguing diversions and dualities.

Lawrence Arabia is supported by Martha Rose and Jaakko Eino Kalevi.