Orchestral Manoeuvre

Lawrence Arabia reveals the reason behind his 12-tracks-in-12-months scheme.

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Lawrence Arabia’s scheme to release 12 tracks in 12 months finished with something of a flourish – and the revelation that the entire scheme was built around this opportunity to work with one of his heroes.

On Christmas Day, the final song in Lawrence Arabia’s 2018 Singles Club landed in the inboxes of club members, who crowdfunded the year-long project (nonmembers can access it on January 16). And with its lush orchestration Just Sleep (Your Shame Will Keep) makes for a grand finale.

The arrangement, which brings elements of classic Broadway, Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook to a whimsical lullaby for an overbearing parent, is the work of US production genius and cult hero Van Dyke Parks, who’s best known as the co-writer on The Beach Boys’ unfinished album Smile.

The 76-year-old’s style is most associated with the likes of Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson, but his vast career has included playing alongside The Byrds and Frank Zappa, arranging The Jungle Book’s The Bare Necessities in 1967, teaming up with the hermit-like Brian Wilson for the album Orange Crate Art in the early 90s and collaborations with artists as various as Skrillex, U2, The Esso Trinidad Steel Band, Bob Dylan, Aussie rockers Silverchair, The Chills and Kimbra.