| ***For the past year, Beirut has alternated between touring in support of 2007's much-lauded The Flying Club Cup and writing a wealth of new material. With no sense of a release in mind, bandleader Zach Condon recorded in any style that struck his fancy. Some early discussions about recording material for a film being shot in Mexico morphed into a new idea: What about finding a local band in a small city in Mexico, hiring them to play some new material, and recording the result? It was a sincere challenge every step of the way. Condon had to find the band, which he did through a bandmate's mother who has connections in Oaxaca. To communicate with the performers, he hired a translator, who had to be able to speak English, Spanish, as well as Zapotec, the band members' native language. From there, he flew down to Oaxaca, traveling a half-hour out of town to the tiny weaver village of Teotitlan del Valle, where he met the nineteen members of The Jimenez Band. The ensuing weeks of recording, rewriting, and relating are documented in a series of short films (being released online in the weeks before and after the release date for March of the Zapotec). All well and good, but the six songs found on March of the Zapotec are only a part of what this release has become. Before recording as Beirut, Condon went by Realpeople for his bedroom recordings, and he has revived the name for the second half in this collection, Holland. As opposed to March of the Zapotec, Holland collects a series of songs conceived and completed at home. One song, "Venice," appeared on a compilation by The Believer magazine, while "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille" was on the Big Change digital-only charity compilation on iTunes. Together, this album-length double release represents the totality of Condon's work over the past year. March of the Zapotec is further testament toward the inventiveness and intimacy he creates as Beirut, a band which started as one person sounding like twelve, and has developed into a particular style and sound. No matter what inspirations jumpstart any one particular song, underlying it all is the realization that Condon is a singular artist creating an original sound. What may appear at first to be two disparate paths are in reality joined by Condon's ability to craft simple melodies that sound both unique and unforgettable. It would be a misconception for Beirut's sound to be considered a dabble in various styles, folk sounds, and music histories, because one could never confuse Condon's music for the original inspiration; all his songs on this release carry more in common with each other than they do their original source of inspiration. And whether he's being inspired by Balkan folk, French chanteuse, Mexican troubadour, '80s synth pop, or '90s house, the common thread remains Condon's ability to personalize the sound. March of the Zapotec marks the continuing emergence of a musician who has only shown an inkling of where he is headed. And while the road may be long, every stop along the way invites a new experience. Enjoy the latest. Praise for The Flying Club Cup: "Pop CD of the Week" --Daily Telegraph "One of the richest, deepest tapestries of sound released this year." (5/5 rating) --The Sun "All unique and gorgeously soothing sounds to even the most cynical ear." (4/5 rating, Album of the Month) --The Fly "So magnificently moving that the only correct response is a standing ovation." (4/5 rating) --The Guardian "As a fantasy of Paris, this sounds lush enough to live in." (4/5 rating) --The Independent "When your record is this good, who cares if he's a bona fide musical genius or simply a cultural sponge?" --Independent On Sunday "Exciting stuff." (4/5 rating) --London Paper "This music's rhapsodic swirl is undeniable" (4/5 rating) --Mojo "4/5" --Q "4/5" --Evening Standard "Melodies to put Thom Yorke to shame." (4/5 rating) --Sunday Telegraph "Infectious." (4/5 rating) --The Times "A thing of simple, mesmerizing beauty." (4/5 rating) --Uncut "A triumph." (8/10 rating) --Rocksound Download a Revolver USA podcast (look for #015) featuring highlights from March of the Zapotec and including an exclusive live song unavailable elsewhere. Watch Beirut's "La Llorona" video Read SPIN's 3.5-rated review in the February 1st edition 30-second MP3 audio excerpts: El Zocalo
La Llorona
My Wife
The Akara
On A Bayonet
The Shrew
My Night With The Prostitute From Marseilleb>
My Wife, Lost In The Wild
Venice
The Concubine
No Dice If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks: Go to iTunes to browse downloads for Beirut "March of the Zapotec". If you have a subscription account at emusic.com, you can download tracks for purchase here. AmazonMP3 For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music Service and emusic, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page. |
