Beirut - The Rip Tide Review
Posted by Nick Krenn on 08.30.2011
More orchestral indie-pop from Zach Condon; does it stack up against his past releases?
01. A Candle’s Fire
02. Santa Fe
03. East Harlem
04. Goshen
05. Payne’s Bay
06. The Rip Tide
07. Vagabond
08. The Peacock
09. Port of Call
Zach Condon's last release under the Beirut moniker was a double EP March of the Zapotec/Holland. Both EP's were different that his previous two full-length efforts. On March of the Zapotec, Condon worked with a local 19 piece collective in Mexico. That EP was influenced by the music of Mexican weddings and funerals. Holland, on the other hand, was more reflective of Condon's early solo work as Realpeople. Holland is even listed as a Realpeople effort. Based on that double EP's experimental nature the title of his new full-length, The Rip Tide seemed to suggest that Condon would be taking his music in another direction.
Other than being the title to the album, The Rip Tide is also one of the tracks on the album. However, if the album’s title is supposed to be significant to the other songs on this album, I’m missing the connection. There’s nothing new or different from past Beirut releases – a more appropriate name for the album could have been Ripple. I’m not knocking the album for its songs or music. Zach Condon’s arrangements are as beautiful as ever, and his singing is as soothing as a cough drop. The album’s title let me down though as I was expecting something more exciting and aggressive, a sea change, with progression from Condon’s past albums that wasn’t so typical or expected. Instead, the music is pulled back from Condon's more experimental turn on his previous double EP.
Typical Beirut is still good though, and The Rip Tide features some of Condon’s best singles to date. “Santa Fe” is akin to mid-tempo electro-pop during most of the track. What separates it from more popular acts like Foster The People or The Naked and Famous are the horn arrangements that swell in harmony. Condon’s talent at putting together orchestra heavy pop songs won’t win over the fans of the aforementioned “popular “groups though. The reason is because Condon’s music feels suited for a wine tasting or background music to an upscale restaurant. It’s uptight, kind of stuffy, and requires a special kind of listener of the indie variety. I'd love to hear an electric guitar incorporated in the mix, but that doesn't seem to be a likely addition any time soon.
Even if that never happens, there's plenty of rich instrumentation to distract away from those thoughts. The cymbal crashes and horn flourishes of “Payne’s Bay” carry elegance and sophistication unlike most acts in the indie world or mainstream music. Condon’s declaration of Headstrong today / I’ve been headstrong in “Payne’s Bay” seems accurate considering this album’s lateral transition. The magnetic charm of “East Harlem” is so immense that I found myself going to it repeatedly. Its sunny demeanor detracts from the somber lyrics about a man separated from his lover.
While “East Harlem” benefits from a more upbeat arrangement, the song could have been easily been melancholy. Not all of the tracks on The Rip Tide are cheerful pop songs. The titular track is a dramatic turn on the album dealing with loneliness. The piano and horns suddenly sound morose rather than suited for a parade. “Goshen” is an equally painful song as Condon sings of a girl that he once knew but vastly changed from her choice in a lifestyle. Though both songs are painfully sad, Condon retains the beauty of his music without anything ever feeling overly pretentious. Despite it's step back from being more experimental or attempting to be aggressive, The Rip Tide never feels dishonest. The songs are well constructed and likely to keep longtime fans happy.
The 411: The Rip Tide is a pleasant album. You may or may not like it on that basis alone. Zach Condon's more toned down approach is somewhat disappointing considering his previous double EP. However, I cannot discredit the power and honesty behind these well-crafted indie pop songs. The Rip Tide won't capsize any ships, but it's another good effort from Condon and one that most indie fans will likely enjoy.
