02.21The Beirut EPs
Some of the criticism that I’ve seen about Zach Condon’s double-EP release, March of the Zapotec & Realpeople: Holland is that it is not up to par with Gulag Orkestar or Flying Club Cup. True, but remember this is not Beirut’s follow-up CD to those two albums. These EPs only reflect what happens when a very talented musician messes around a little for his own amusement, and the result is some tracks that are decent enough that at devoted fans will want them, so let’s put away the harsh criticism. How many musicians do we know who could toss off 11 songs in two different styles, and have all of them sound this good?
Dividing the songs into two groups allowed Condon to release all the tracks at the same time while avoiding confusion over the two conflicting styles. The first six songs belong to the Zapotec group, recorded with the Jimenez Band, a 19-member funeral march ensemble he met on a recent trip to the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca. Condon knows just what to do with warm, Latin brass, and the Jimenez Band show they are skilled and crafty. I like all of them, but “The Akara,” with its Moorish tones, is my favorite.
The second EP contains five songs with Condon as the entire orchestra in his own bedroom in the same way his first project, Realpeople, came into being. Let’s not forget that Gulag Orkestar was a bedroom work too. The lazy, liquid “Venice” put another spot on Condon’s map of Europe, taking its rightful place beside his other city songs. The spritely “No Dice” has a name that works in both English and Spanish, where it translates as “you don’t say!”
Women provide the uniting force that binds the sets together. Wife, concubine, prostitute, shrew, and unending source of tears–all get their place in the spotlight, and all are given a place of beauty and respect.
Another criticism I’ve seen of these EPs is “all mood and no substance.” But deep, philosophical lyrics have never been Condon’s strong point. He is doing here what he always does best, offering to whisk you away on a wave of emotion to a different, fanciful world. You don’t ask what it means, you just go with it. These are not the songs that are guaranteed to win over someone who hasn’t cared for Beirut’s first two albums, but for those of us who are already smitten, these EPs are a welcome addition to the collection.
The Akara from March of the Zapotec EP (2009)
Napoleon on the Bellerophon from Pompeii (2007)
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- alt-gramma (371)
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amen! lovely post.
February 21st, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Great post! You cleared up a couple of things that I wasn’t sure about the album, and after listening to some of the previews on iTunes it all sounds AMAZING! Plus, you hit the nail right on the head - these EP’s aren’t for everyone, but they show what happens when a genius like Zach Condon has some creative fun.
I like the tracks you posted too, Napoleon on the Bellerphon is a classic!
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
You know, two-three years ago, Condon was the darling of the music blogs except for the few who thought he was a poseur or even a fraud. I was afraid that Gulag Orkestar was a one-time fluke, and I am so pleased that Condon has proved his bona fide talent over time with consistent high quality. I like the guy, and I remain in awe of what he does even when he’s just fooling around.
I think he’s going to give us a serious release later this year.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm