BEIRUT – NO NO NO
WITH the title of Beirut’s new album, No No No, you have to wonder what exactly it is that band leader Zach Condon is objecting to. He’s created a record with an overall feel-good factor, and on top of that, it’s his best yet.
Since an early European adventure exposed the American musician to the sounds of the Balkans, Condon has made his name by getting to the root of a tradition and respectfully incorporating its influence into his own indie sound.
Beirut has taken us around the world with a record player, this latest release melding these impressions in a more subtle way. It’s varied but cohesive, flowing from the rhythmic start of Gibraltar, through building instrumentation in As Needed, ending with the tender buoyancy of So Allowed, and taking in many catchy yet perfectly crafted tunes along the way.
The feel is upbeat without being overwhelmingly joyful - reflective lyricism lends itself to a hopeful optimism as shown in the album’s opening lines, “Everything should be fine”. With No No No the only reasonable reaction is Yes, Yes, Yes. 8/10 - Nathania Hartley
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