Beirut - Gallipoli

7.6

Beirut's fifth release sees them coming back to their original formula and staying for most of its running time in their comfort zone, blending Balkan, African and Middle-Eastern instrumentals with longing lyrics in ways that might never get exctinted after all.

Highlights

- There's urgency in the tracks, each of them fulfilling a purposeful role in the record.

- Zach Condon's melancholic tune will always be something to aspire at.

- Once again, the guys make you fly through different geographies with their musical decisions.

Lowlights

- In some ways, it seems like their most experimental album and, as with every experiment, there's a certain amount of error in the trial process.

- While the instrumentals play a heavy part in the record, one wishes they would explode more easily or substantially.

Standouts

- Landslide

- Gallipoli

- Varieties Of Exile

Country: USA

Released: February 1, 2019

Length: 44:36

Angelo De Augustine - Tomb

5.7

While the emotions expressed are sweetly intertwined with paced catharsis and bleak optimism, the record can't sustain its snail-like developing and suffocating over-impressions for that long.

Highlights

- Angelo's voice melts into the ears lullabying you to a serene atmosphere and place.

- It's good to see lyrical directness and complexity in acoustic folk music.

- Some non-analog details in some tracks show off slight versatility and willing to experiment.

Lowlights

- The guitars and the high-pitched phrases turn out boring after a couple of songs.

- There's too much Sufjan Stevens influence here.

- Nothing particulary impressive appears throughout its running time.

Standouts

- All To The Wind

- Bird Has Flown

Country: USA

Released: January 11, 2019

Length: 46:18