The first single, "East Harlem" stands right up there with "Postcards from Italy" from 2006's Gulag Orkestar, as my favorite Beirut song. The tune is lead by jaunty piano chords and laid back ukulele as the horn section causally fills the vocal-less spaces of the song while leading up to the song's uplifting coda. Touches of Condon's early electronic bedroom recordings/side project Realpeople show up from time to time over the album, most notably on the bouncy "Sante Fe" as electronic drums and beats share the stage with a swelling horn section. Like past albums, Condon's trembling croon remains one of Beirut's strong points especially as his vulnerable vocals become more layered as the songs build and progress.
What stands The Rip Tide apart from Beirut's previous releases is the full, lush sound that proves that Beirut is not just a one man show, but rather a fully realized act with Condon at the reigns. His early recordings always had a stripped down solo feel to them, but now ukuleles, accordions, electronic organs, and mariachi horns( a shout out to Condon's home state of New Mexico) give the songs an orchestral vibe while maintaining the approachable minstrel quality of Beirut's music. The title track has an elegant and almost cinematic feel to it that most of Beirut's early work lacked while lush strings usher in Condon's vivid lyrics on "Payne's Bay" as cymbols crash behind the chanting conclusion.
The Rip Tide by Beirut will be released digitally tomorrow, August 2nd. Physical copies will hit record stores later this month on August 30th.
rating: 98
Can't wait. Seeing them tomorrow in Toronto.
Thought I'd listen to the new songs live first!