Posts about Beirut
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Night one of three NYC shows with Beirut at Bowery Ballroom, and Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy did not disappoint. He spins a colorful world by weaving layer after layer on his violin and then some on keys. His voice is crisp, sounding exactly like in recording (woo-hoo), though he did not hesitate to drop a line he’d started to try it again. In the meantime, he shared his admiration of Zach Condon’s projection, calling himself a “pussy behind the microphone.” On stage, Owen is easily humble, charming and funny. In addition to old favorites like “Adventure.exe” and “It Took You Two Years to Win My Heart,” he played some new tunes, one of them being “Flare Gun.”
(Photos and review continue after the jump)
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Download Beirut’s KEXP SXSW session (from NPR)
(Pictured: Iceland’s Múm)
Yes, in other Wordless Music news, I am psyched for its second season that begins in September. Beirut will play three nights, though dates are yet to be confirmed- or if they have been, they haven’t been announced yet. The season will also feature Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead in addition to Múm, Do Make Say Think, Max Richter, Bing & Ruth, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Nico Muhly, etc.
The video is not necessarily worth raving about, but: it’s Beirut, and “Elephant Gun” is a gorgeous song, so I’ll be watching it every now and then (disclaimer: I’m not sure if songs, especially the great ones, should have a music video at all, even though they make such a great channel for first-rate video work, which I’m a fan of). Though not an exceptional video, however, the set looks pretty, and there’s a sense of sadness in it (isn’t there?). I’m thinking of Zach Condon reading Borges. Somehow there seems to be a connection. The choice of colors I like too. And the elephant tusk “mask” I would buy one for myself, because it looks kind of neat, but I’m suspcious about whether its inclusion in the video is the best choice. But, to give you real information, Alma Har’el, who directed this one, is also working on one for “Postcards.” In spite of my confusion over how I feel about music videos for bands I really really love, I say to that upcoming video: Wheee! and Hurray!
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Previously:
Download Beirut’s KEXP SXSW session (from NPR)
Photo: Claire Vogel
Zach Condon of Beirut has told Billboard that the new album’s is not a heaviliy Balkan aesthetic; the upcoming material is instead more “varied in approach” where every instrument isn’t necessarily used on every song. For string arrangements Beirut has been working with Owen Pallet of Final Fantasy, who they’re playing with at the May 6-8 Bowery Ballroom dates, and Griffin Rodriguez is on board as the producer. Spain may get a preview of some of this material at its Primavera Festival.
