March of the Zapotec / Holland

Released in 2009, March of the Zapotec / Holland is a double EP that serves as a pivotal experimental document in Beirut's discography. The first half resulted from Zach Condon's trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, where he collaborated with the nineteen-piece Funeral Band of Teotitlán del Valle. These tracks, like 'La Llorona', are characterized by dense, polyphonic brass arrangements that lean into the mournful yet celebratory nature of Zapotec funeral music. The second half, 'Holland', sees Condon returning to his 'Realpeople' project, utilizing drum machines and synthesizers to create a lo-fi, electronic pop sound that predates his rise to fame as a folk icon. This release is significant for showcasing Condon's versatility and his ability to synthesize disparate cultural and technological influences into a cohesive, melancholic aesthetic. Critics noted the successful marriage of traditional Mexican brass with Condon's signature Balkan-influenced songwriting, while also praising the vulnerability of the electronic tracks.