Home / Arts and Entertainment / Beirut's Zach Condon Finds New Sound in Circus Spectacle
Beirut's Zach Condon Finds New Sound in Circus Spectacle
12 Sep
Summary
- Zach Condon composed music for a Swedish circus troupe.
- The album 'A Study of Losses' draws inspiration from loss and impermanence.
- New tracks blend Beirut's signature sound with electronic experimentation.
Zach Condon, the creative force behind Beirut, has released "A Study of Losses," an album born from an unusual commission by the Swedish circus troupe Kompani Giraff. Condon initially felt trepidation, recalling past pigeonholing as a "whimsical circus waif."
However, after engaging with the circus's artistic vision and Judith Schalansky's novel "Verzeichnis einiger Verluste," which explores loss and impermanence, Condon composed 18 tracks for the stage show and subsequent album. This unique creative process has yielded some of Beirut's most surprising and effortless songwriting in years.
The album artfully blends Beirut's beloved aesthetic, characterized by Condon's distinctive baritone and gliding melodies, with new sonic territories. While tracks like "Villa Sacchetti" evoke the band's early work with rousing brass and waltzing rhythms, others, such as "Ghost Train" and "Guericke's Unicorn," venture into a prominent electronic soundscape, reminiscent of Tangerine Dream and '80s synth-pop.
"A Study of Losses" showcases Condon's rich songwriting form, with melodies flowing with an easy appeal akin to his earlier acclaimed works. The album successfully navigates themes of impermanence, offering a collection that is both bittersweet and invigorating.
