New Zealand’s Lawrence Arabia (aka James Milne) has been a prolific musician on the NZ music scene over the last few years. With his band The Reduction Agents and stints with both the Ruby Suns and The Brunettes he is a man well versed in melodic indie pop songs. On his second solo album Chant Darling he ups the ante with sweet harmonies, nagging dark guitar lines and whimsical lyrical turns.

The Beatles are an obvious touchstone for Milne with his Lennon-esque voice setting the scene from the opener ‘Look Like A Fool’. Elsewhere there is the strong kiwi influence of Chris Knox on ‘The Beautful Young Crew’. Lyrically Milne approaches day to day themes and infuses them with a 1950s romantic glow of apple pies, friends and lost love. ‘I’ve Smoked Too Much’ is the gem among the jewels of Chant Darling. It sparkles with a delicious chorus that induces smiles on the faces of whoever hears it.

The ghost of the Ruby Suns spooks the room on ‘Auckland CBD Part 2’ with African percussion taking the pop to a highlife place. It works well and doesn’t stand out obviously from the rest of the album, in part due to Milne’s lack of fear in serving the melody of the song. He isn’t afraid to strip it back to a lonely horn, high hat and distant harmonies on ‘The Beautiful Young Crew’ or journey into psychedelic territory on ‘The Crew Of The Commodore’ – both songs playing on the nautical theme that accompanies the artwork.

Lawrence Arabia has hit the melodic nail on the head with Chant Darling. It is a gloriously pop record without the saccharine sweetness that is often overdone in the indie world. It still retains a musical toughness, especially in the guitar lines that chop and chug when needed to provide the backbone. It is a lush collection of songs that evoke urban, rainforest and aquatic landscapes with a beguiling ease.

Chant Darling is out now through Mistletone