Beirut
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Evocative/eclectic alternative pop, with world influences
Status:
Most recent release, Gallipoli (2019)
See also:
Beirut's site
Comparisons:
Owen Pallet (AKA Final Fantasy), The Galerkin Method
Covers/own material:
Own, occasional covers, occasional co-writing
General comments:
Beirut is one of those indie rock bands that's actually a single person, songwriter Zach Condon. This is the kind of rich, multi-instrumental "indie rock" I go for... Think Rufus Wainwright, Sufjan Stevens or Andrew Bird. But definitely has his own thing going. More gypsy-like. (timjy@sbcglobal.net)Beirut seemed to appear out of nowhere, especially the band (meaning, really, Zach Condon, though now there are other members of the band)'s mix of alternative pop/rock with European folk music. This lead to a unique sound—both mournful and energetic—that is pretty irresistible. For me, at least. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Any
Recordings:
- Gulag Orkestar (2006)
- Lon Gisland (EP, 2007)
- The Flying Club Cup (2007)
- Pompeii EP (EP, 2007)
- Elephant Gun EP (EP, 2007)
- March of the Zapotec/Holland (iTunes EP, 2009)
- The Rip Tide (2011)
- No No No (2015)
- Gallipoli (2019)
Gulag Orkestar
Release info:
2006—Ba Da Bing!
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—trumpet, ukelele, piano, organs, vocals, percussion, accordion, mandolin
Guest artists:
Jeremy Barnes—percussion (2, 4 8, 9); accordion (3, 8)
Heather Trost—violins (2, 3, 6, 9)
Perrin Cloutier—cell (5, 9)
Hari Ziznewski—clarinet (3, 8, 9)
Comments:
This first album immediately established Beirut's unique sound, focusing on the ukelele, the melodic but mournful world sound of the accordion, and Zach Condon's rich vocals. (Neile)
Lon Gisland
Release info:
2007—Ba Da Bing!
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—vocals, ukelele, piano trumpet
Guest artists:
Kelly Pratt—trumpet, euphonium, flugel horn
Nick Petree—percussion
Paul Collins—ukelele, percussion, organs
Kristin Ferebee—violin
Perrin Cloutier—accordion, cello
Jon Natchez—ukelele, baritone sax, clarinet, glockenspiel
Jason Peranski—mandolin, ukelele
Comments:
This five-track EP is a strong follow-up to Beirut's first album, and feels upbeat, energetic, and playful. (Neile)
The Flying Club Cup
Release info:
Availability:
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—vocals, organ, percussion, euphonium, trumpet, petromilli, piano, conch shells, farfisa, mandolin, wurlitzer, glockenspiel, flugel horn, percussion, backing vocals, French horn, ukulele, accordion
Guest artists:
Owen Pallet (Final Fantasy)—violin (2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11); harpsichord (2, 3); piano (2); vocals (6); celeste (8); steel drums (12); Lowrey organ (13); backing vocals (13); string arrangements
Jason Poranski—mandolin arrangement (12); mandolin (4); backing vocals (8); guitar, mandolin (12)
Perrin Cloutier—upright bass (2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 13); cello (3, 4, 8, 12); accordion (4, 8, 13); viola (8); backing vocals (8, 13)
Kristin Ferebee—violin (2, 3, 8, 9, 11); backing vocals (13)
Luba B. Glade—broken glass (2)
Heather Trost—viola (3, 6); violin (6)
Kendrick Strauch—piano (4, 5, 9, 10, 13)
Nick Petree—percussion (4, 6, 9, 12, 13); guitar (6); backing vocals (8, 13)
Paul Collins—bouzouki (4, 12)
Jon Natchez—clarinet (8, 13); bass clarinet (8); flute (8, 13); baritone saxophone (10); mandolin (12); melodica (13)
Griffin Rodriguez—backing vocals (8)
Kell and Tracy Pratt—euphoniums (10)
Comments:
Like the Lon Gisland EP, this feels upbeat and energetic. I like the collaboration between Zach Condon and Owen Pallet, which seems like a match made in heaven. This is a delightful collection, and one of my favourite albums of 2007. (Neile)
The Rip Tide
Release info:
2011—Pompeii Records
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—pump organ, trumpet, ukulele, vocals, percussion, organ, pedal bass, piano, Hammond organ, organs
Guest artists:
Sharon Van Etten—vocals (2, 5)
Jon Natchez—bartone saxophone (1)
Kelly Pratt—trumpet (1, 3–7, 9); French horn (1, 3, 5, 6, 9); euphonium (1, 5, 9); vocals (3, 5, 6); clarinet (5); glockenspiel (7)
Perrin Cloutier—accordion (1, 2, 5, 7); farfisa (2); Wurlitzer (2); piano (3, 5, 7, 9); pump organ (3, 5); cello (4–6, 9); mandolin (5); harpsichord (7)
Nick Petree—percussion (1–7, 9); kit (1)
Paul Collins—bass (1–7, 9)
Ben Lanz—trombone (1, 3–6, 9); tuba (5)
Heather Trost—violin (5, 7)
Griffin Rodriguez—glockenspiel (9)
Produced by:
Griffin Rodriguez and Zach Condon
Comments:
individually, each song is thrilling, but side by side on an album the similarity in tone and tempo get in my way. I found myself longing for an electric guitar or a rhythmic digression to shake up the mix. (adamk@zoom.co.uk)For me this is his best album yet. The songwriting here has the most power and individuality for me of any of his recordings. Lovely! Definitely one of my top albums of the year. (Neile)
No No No
Release info:
2015—4AD&mdashCAD 3525CD
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—vocals, piano, Roland synthesizer, trumpet, Moog Rogue, Farfisa, Wurlitzer, percussion, Mellotron, ukulele, Korg, Rhodes keyboard, Moog Sub Phatty, celeste, Moog Voyager, Juno, pump organ
Guest artists:
Nick Petree—percussion (1-9); acoustic guitar (4, 5, 8), backing vocals (7)
Paul Collins—bass (1-4, 7, 8); electric guitar (4, 6); upright bass (5, 6, 7, 9); electric bass (6); Farfisa (6, 7, 8); guitar (7); backing vocals (7))
Kyle Resnick—trumpet (2, 3, 4, 6, 9)
Ben Lanz—trombone (2, 3, 4, 6 9)
Perrin Cloutier—tom drum (2); accordio (2)
Yuki Numata Resnick—violin (4, 5, 7, 9)
Ben Russell—violin (4, 5, 7, 9)
Clarice Jensen—cello (4, 5, 7, 9)
Produced by:
Zach Condon and Gabe Wax
Comments:
Something a little more pop-y about this album. I like it, but just don't love it or find it quite as compelling as his other releases. (Neile)
Gallipoli
Release info:
2019—4AD
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Zach Condon—vocals, backing vocals, piano, Rhodes piano, Farfisa organ, Hammond organ, pump organ, ukulele, trumpet, accordion, percussion, synth, Moog Voyager synthesizer, modular synthesizer, bells, Roland keyboard, ROLI Seaboard keyboard, shaker, drum machine
Guest artists:
Nick Petree—drums (1, 3–6, 8–10, 12), percussion (1–8, 10, 11), baritone ukulele (1, 6), backing vocals (6), hand drums (7, 10)
Paul Collins—bass (1–3, 7–10, 12), guitar (1, 3, 7, 10), Farfisa organ (2), double bass (6, 11), backing vocals (6), tape machine (6), drum machine (7), modular synthesizer (7, 11, 12), baritone guitar (8), percussion (8), synthesizer (9), space echo (12)
Ben Lanz—trombone (10, 11), brass arrangement (11)
Kyle Resnick—trumpet (10, 11)
Produced by:
Zach Condon and Gabe Wax
Comments:
I'm especially struck by the instrumental moments on this album—not that the vocals aren't, as usual, great. A somewhat dreamy album. (Neile)
Further info:
Beirut has two DVDs to date: Cheap Magic Inside (2007) and Beirut: Live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (2009)
