Zach Condon, the front man of the band Beirut started writing and recording music as a teenager. One of his side projects was called Realpeople. In early 2009 Beirut released a double EP called March of the Zapotec and Holland, by Realpeople. The former is a short album inspired bu Mexican folklore and music. Apparently Condon had traveled to Oaxaca Mexico and attempted to capture the spirit of his experiences in music. Those of you that know me will understand why I am immediately taken by this album. For those of you that don't know me, I am a Mexicanist by trade and I played trumpet in high school and I played in a brass quintet in college. Beirut nicely blends the Mexican influenced tone and modes with their own sound, which allows them to maintain their musical identity. Here is a track from March of the Zapotec called "The Shrew".
About halfway through the disc the album takes an abrupt turn. It is literally as if another band from a completely different genre was cued. This is the Realpeople section of the disc which is titled Holland. Some of what you hear on this album is from Condon's earlier days and it has been reworked. Below is my favorite song from the second album, "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille." Not the most wholesome title, but the lyrics don't offend and the music is incredible. Of this I dig, I hope you enjoy it too.
3 comments:
I have always thought that a entire mariachi band boarding a bus in Mexico (you know, the 1-2 variety) and playing some great rock song and then going around asking for limosna would make a great music video. And that is what your post made me think of.
Have you listened to "Postcards from Italy," from his first album (The Gulag Orkestar)? It was my introduction to Beirut, and I listened to that first album many time that summer I worked early-morning custodial in the Tanner Building...
I haven't heard more than one or two tracks of that album Paul, I will get to it eventually. Right now I am reading like a mad man and I forget to listen to music when I'm not reading.
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