Beirut
The Flying Club Cup
Ba Da Bing!

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Beirut is the European-inspired project of New Mexico-born, New York-based singer-songwriter and trumpeter Zach Condon. Accordion, oompah rhythms and other aspects of Balkan gypsy folk music return on his sophomore album's wine-soused sing-alongs, like nostalgic standout "A Sunday Smile" or horn-laden "Cherbourg." With its passion for all things French (especially the late singer-songwriter Jacques Brel), The Flying Club Cup may be even more cosmopolitan than last year's precocious Gulag Orkestar album and Condon's disappointingly pat Lon Gisland EP. This time, he ventures into jazzy piano and wine-country lushness on songs like "In the Mausoleum." Another highlight is "Nantes," with rattling percussion and joyously melancholy harmonies. Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett, who arranges strings for the Arcade Fire, contributes orchestration and vocals to the mordant "Cliquot," which asks, "What melody will see him in my arms again?" Condon's debonair croon is the real star, especially on sparer tracks like solo piano number "Un Dernier Verre (Pour La Route)." Nothing quite lives up to Gulag Orkestar's much-blogged "Postcards to Italy," but The Flying Club Cup is a more consistent album from an idiosyncratic romantic who, at only age 21, may just be finding his voice.

-- Marc Hogan