There aren't many bands that can get away with an instrumental track on an album that's barely 30 minutes long. But Beirut's fifth album No No No manages to pull it off, mainly because its brevity challenges the listener to take on No No No as a single, overall entity.
In other words, as an album -- something to be applauded in the age of random play.
The title track bounces along on a polka synth, and horns and piano carry the pulsing At Once.
No No No might lack the pastoral flavours that 2007's The Flying Club Cup brought to the attention of many music fan, the band has evolved, and edits succinctly around horns, piano and Zach Condon's earthy voice. A voice that the minute you hear it, you are reminded of what a nice place Beirut is to visit.
And along with the Villager's Darling Arithmetic, No No No is contender for the title of "Best Short Album of 2015".
