Gulag Orkestar, by Beirut (LP on 4AD)

A Norman Records recommendation (19th November 2008)

	Description:	LP on 4AD	UK ORDERS OVER £50 SHIP FREE!
	Format:	LP
	Label:	4AD
	Price:	£9.79
	Catalogue number:	CAD2833
	Availability:	despatched in 1 working day

What you say No-one has reviewed Gulag Orkestar by Beirut yet. Give us your opinion on Gulag Orkestar by Beirut. What we say This record left our Phil feeling ecstatic. Lordy it's good! Imagine Black Ox Orkestar crossed with Radiohead with a dash of Leonard Cohen and some Eastern European Carnival music. It's fantastic. I can't get the words across about how great all of us think this is. There's not many occasions when we all love something but this is one of those rare things I've just been implying doesn't happen very much. Incredibly the guy who makes this music is only 19. I was shocked..... so accomplished and intelligent sounding for a 19 year old. When I was 19 I still had to get help with toilet things...... Anyway this isn't gonna be everyone's bag but if the above sound interesting check it out cos it's well bum. Before David Byrne gets his hands on him anyway.... What the label says: While it may sound like an entire Balkan gypsy orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, Beirut's first album, Gulag Orkestar, is largely the work of one 19-year-old Albuquerque native, Zach Condon, with assistance by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw). Horns, violins, cellos, 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 like a drunken 12-member ensemble that has fallen in love with The Magnetic Fields, Talking Heads and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Other customers buying this also bought: Flower Of Evil by Susanna (CD, £12.79) The Inbetween - Special Edition by Essie Jain (CD, £7.99) Other items by Beirut: Gulag Orkestar by Beirut (LP, £11.79) The Flying Cup Club by Beirut (CD, £8.29) The Gulag Orkestar by Beirut (CD, £11.99)

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Norman Records:
Unit 1 Armley Park Court, Stanningley Road, Leeds, LS12 2AE, UK.
Tel/Fax UK (+44): 0113 2311114
phil@normanrecords.com

About the humble LP:

The LP is the daddy of formats. 12" inches of sheer joy. The LP adds to the glory of the 12" record as it can be played at a slower speed (33rpm instead of the usual 45rpm for singles), consequently more musical joy can be had. Played on a decent deck the sound of an LP is about a million times better than any other format. They look fantastic...... a nice gatefold sleeve with a information rich inner sleeve will keep you entertained for hours even before your stylus has chance to make eye contact with it's 12" prey. An essential part of musical heritage which will never be forgotten. It still does play at a multitude of speeds but as it's recorded to be played slower they normally sound ridiculous sped up. Though double albums can make up for this slight inadequacy by ramming more tunes into your ears for your money. Utterly essential.

'Knowledge is a light treasure you can carry with you always'