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August 30th, 2006 by Alex Ingersoll (Permalink)
Label: Ba Da Ding! Year: 2006 Add Comments |
Debut records tend to miss more than hit, as artists struggle to define themselves in the early stages of their career. However, there are exceptions to this freshman rule (yet are expected to be plagued with the dreaded sophomore slump) and when a debut record hits all the right notes, surprised music fans can’t help but project their excitement onto the future of these new interests.
Beirut has done just that with their unveiling release on Ba Da Ding! and have generated plenty of well deserved buzz in the process. Balkan soundscapes filled with sweeping horns, powerful vocals, and folk melodies are the main dish on Gulag Orkestar. An incredible helping of thoughtful pieces transports the listener outside of his/her typical listening space (unless you’re an expert on Russian and Eastern European folk traditions). The fact that the man behind the folk stomps is a 19 year old from the American southwest only adds to the mystery behind Beirut’s sound.
The compositions recall classic Neutral Milk Hotel moments, yet also with a tinge of Rufus Wainright and Andrew Bird. Trumpet, organ, violin, cello, ukulele, mandolin, accordion, glockenspiel, and whimsical crooning fill the air as if you had wandered into a smoky Russian pub pounding back vodka with singing crowds all forgetting where they are. Certainly a throwback to old folk music that our grandparents would have reached for, yet still manages to grab at the heart of any indie aficionado.
The charm that’s generated by this release is largely due to the simplicity in the compositions themselves. It’s hard not to sing along with the marches, waltzes, and dirges and easily jump into what Beirut is offering up here. While the record is not perfect, it gives the listener an inspired transportation into faraway lands and gorgeous traditions. It only makes the listener look forward to what this young group has got in store for the future.
-Alex Ingersoll
Tracklist:
1. The Gulag Orkestar
2. Prenzlauerberg
3. Brandenburg
4. Postcards from Italy
5. Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)
6. Rhineland (Heartland)
7. Scenic World
8. Bratislava
9. The Bunker
10. The Canals of Our City
11. After the Curtain
Beirut’s website: http://www.beirutband.com/
Myspace: http://myspace.com/beruit
Ba Da Ding! Records: http://www.badabingrecords.com/
