Album: Beirut, The Rip Tide (Pompeii)

Andy Gill
Friday 26 August 2011 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

On 2009's March of the Zapotec, the Beirut mainman Zach Condon split his output between Mexican funeral-band brass music and a rather tired form of electropop.

Thankfully, he's ditched the latter and developed the former interest into a more mature crossover style in which accordion, pump organ and down-at-heel horns combine in ways that bring to mind Sufjan Stevens. On "A Candle's Fire", the horns lend the air of a budget triumphal procession, while the charm of "Santa Fe" offers an infectiously whimsical evocation of Condon's home territory. The title-track, meanwhile, has the gauche but homely bonhomie of a small-town carnival float with a squeaky wheel, with cello and horns suspended around a central core of piano. The engaging mood is further enhanced by Condon's baffling but beautiful lyrics.

DOWNLOAD THIS: A Candle's Fire; Santa Fe; Payne's Bay; Vagabond

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in