Zach Condon once explained that his band name Beirut is a reference to a place of conflict where different cultures clash. This may be the very reason why I periodically go back to Beirut’s catalog. Rather than being in the mood for a particular music genre, it could be the clash of indie pop moments and various world music influences has its momentary appeal and is just the thing I need.
In anticipation of Beirut’s next album release, Condon released two singles: “Guericke’s Unicorn” and “Caspian Tiger”. The former unabashedly leans into the pop sensibilities of the band with its trance-like synth bed. But “Caspian Tiger” takes a divergent path down a stripped down exploration of classical elements.
The lone piano notes create a sense of loneliness and despair. It seems doomed from the start. But the piano isn’t alone. It’s quietly surrounded by vocal harmonies and instrumentation that, to my untrained ear, sound like a melodica, accordion and an acoustic guitar or mandolin. These elements create a sense of buoyancy, creating a surprising glimmer of hope. There are themes here that are unmistakably Beirut. But the one aspect that really shines on “Caspian Tiger” is Condon’s delicate lead vocals where he achieves a delicate balance of quiet and powerful, floating effortlessly into falsetto. Absolutely stunning.
“YOU’RE ALSO DYING. YOU’RE ALSO SAFE.”