Beirut - March Of The Zapotec and Realpeople - Holland EP

Seriously, how can you not love Zach Condon of Beirut? The boy is completely adorable, not to mention incredibly talented. On his new double EP, Condon brings together his folk side (March of the Zapotec) with his electronica/synth side, stemming from a pre-Beirut moniker, Realpeople, on the second EP (Holland). March of the Zapotec is exactly what you'd expect from Condon, as each track bustles with horns, strings, and his own signature vocals. The only difference this time around is The Jimenez Band, a 19-piece band from Teotitlan del Valle, who back Condon on the EP, which was inspired by his recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.

Not a bad EP overall, but it pales in comparison to the Realpeople side, which is a welcome departure from Beirut's typical musical stylings. Opening track, "My Night with the Prostitute From Marseille," is a mix of swirling beats punctuated with Condon's romanticized lyrics, as is each of the other four tracks on the Holland EP. The main thing that grabbed me about Realpeople was how pretty and natural Condon's voice sounds over a smattering of dreamy beats and blips. Don't get me wrong, I love regular Beirut balkan-french-folk-pop-whathaveyou, but there's something about the Realpeople EP that makes me want to grab Condon by the collar and congratulate him for releasing music that sounds so fucking beautiful, without trying too hard.

DOWNLOAD: Beirut - March Of The Zapotec / Realpeople - Holland EP [Ba Da Bing]
Recommended Tracks: "The Akara," "The Shrew," "My Night with the Prostitute From Marseille," "My Wife, Lost In The Wild," "No Dice."