ExpanDrive

The Gulag Orkestar by Beirut is one of the most fantastic albums I’ve heard in a long time. It might take a bit of time to really get into the operatic indie sound they’re putting together, but if you [like many] enjoy Sufjan Stevens, chances are good you can find a place for these guys. The band is largely driven by a 19 year old highschool dropout that spent a couple years traveling eastern europe. The sound is totally outside the box. No guitars [other than a ukeleilei here and there] and a great horns & percussions section. Like many reviews say — this CD sounds like what you imagine you might hear at a gypsy carnival somewhere in the Balkans. It is fantastic.