I only discovered Beirut earlier in the year and I considered the first album, "Gulag Orkestar" to be the best album of 2007. Then I find out that the busy Zach Condon has made this. "The Flying Club Cup" is a beautifully evocative album, which seems to take place in France sometime in the 1930s (in my opinion). Much like "Gulag Orkestar", which came to us from Eastern Europe, the instruments and arrangements used are tied to a nation and culture, but I feel the illusion is even more complete in this album.

The music sways back and forth, like aeroplanes waltzing in the air. Owen Pallett, the brilliant violinist one-man-band behind Final Fantasy and member of Arcade Fire, wrote the string arrangements for the album, which shiver and drift like vapour trails. Listening to the album, you feel you've walking through a stack of old sepia photographs

A review in The Guardian said that the ending of the album was worthy of a standing ovation. I agree, the final track is a huge,… more »

I only discovered Beirut earlier in the year and I considered the first album, "Gulag Orkestar" to be the best album of 2007. Then I find out that the busy Zach Condon has made this. "The Flying Club Cup" is a beautifully evocative album, which seems to take place in France sometime in the 1930s (in my opinion). Much like "Gulag Orkestar", which came to us from Eastern Europe, the instruments and arrangements used are tied to a nation and culture, but I feel the illusion is even more complete in this album.

The music sways back and forth, like aeroplanes waltzing in the air. Owen Pallett, the brilliant violinist one-man-band behind Final Fantasy and member of Arcade Fire, wrote the string arrangements for the album, which shiver and drift like vapour trails. Listening to the album, you feel you've walking through a stack of old sepia photographs

A review in The Guardian said that the ending of the album was worthy of a standing ovation. I agree, the final track is a huge, gloriously theatrical celebration of the world that has been created. It reduces me to tears of joy.

I love the album, and Beirut are the band of the year. If you're thinking of buying it but undecided, watch the live performances of the album on their website, this will make up your mind.