BEIRUT - THE FLYING CLUB CUP
Beirut leading man Zach Condon was not shy about the concept of his recent effort. Each song is inspired by a different city in France, the packaging featuring sepia photos from a bygone era. Condon’s melodramatic, dreamboat voice evokes romance and nostalgia, punctuated with the sounds of a street horn ensemble, strings, accordion, layered vocals and all the carnival-esque charm that earned his debut set, 2006’s “Gulag Orkestar,” so much attention. It’s difficult at times, though, to pick out one song from another, and some tracks are too familiar or too heavy-eyed for a second glance. But compositions like “Cliquot,” “In the Mausoleum” and the excellent opener, “Nantes,” make an impression thanks to a strong rhythm presence, while “Forks and Knives (La Fete)” is packed with whimsy and a killer verse melody.
