Sound Republic: Music News

Beirut returns to Australia

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By Sound Republic
5 October 2011

Related Artists

Beirut

Related Festivals

Falls Festival (2011)

Following the release of his acclaimed new album The Rip Tide, Beirut will return to Australian shores to play headline shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Don't miss Beirut at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 5 January 2012, The Forum Theatre in Melbourne on Tuesday 10 January 2012, and at The Hi Fi in Brisbane on Thursday 12 January 2012. Beirut will also be performing at Southbound and Falls Festivals.

Zach Condon’s music often parallels the exotic mysteries of world travel. Since Beirut’s last album The Flying Club Cup (2007) sang a love-letter to France, many asked where his songs would voyage next. Few predicted the inward journey that Condon takes on his latest LP The Rip Tide, an album with the most introspective and memorable songs of his young career.

Recorded in upstate New York, Brooklyn and in Condon’s hometowns of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, The Rip Tide marks a distinct leaping point for Beirut. Beginning life as small melodies conceived on piano or ukulele, the songs were built upon by the entire band in the studio before Condon’s paring down and retrofitting. The performances of the band — Perrin Cloutier on accordion, Paul Collins on bass, Ben Lanz on trombone, Nick Petree on drums and Kelly Pratt on horns — are spot-on. With contributions by such esteemed colleagues as violinist Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Sharon Van Etten, The Rip Tide reveals greater levels the more the listener explores.

A renowned perfectionist when it comes to performing live, any chance to see Beirut in the flesh should be taken as an opportunity to witness one of the most unique artists in music today.