Beirut
Chrysa, one of my best friends from dA, posted first this video on her journal commenting that “here is something that made my day … and enhanced my summer mood. Listen and experience the trip”. After I heard that song I immediately agreed with her.
Beirut according to “Billboard” is “the moniker of 20-year-old Brooklyn resident Zach Condon, a high school dropout who spent some time in eastern Europe soaking up the culture and music styles of the “old world.” Beirut’s MySpace page describes his music as sounding like “Jewish immigrants,” which rings very true. “Gulag” is his first offering and is a gorgeous collection of traditional-sounding eastern European folk songs, which are accented by a horn section and accordion throughout.”
“While it may sound like an entire Balkan orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, [Gulag Orkestar] … was almost completely recorded at home. Horns, violins, cello, ukuleles, mandolins, glockenspiels, drums, tambourines, congas, organs, pianos, clarinets and accordions (no guitars on this album!) all build and break the melodies under Condon’s deep-voiced crooner vocals, swaying to the Eastern European beats that sound like they’re being brought to you by a 12-member ensemble.” [via last.fm]
I don’t know if being a Greek (and therefore a Balkan) plays an important role in loving Condon’s music but I think that when an American 20-year old guy makes that kind of music the outcome will certainly be interesting and original!