Beirut’s Zach Condon is determined to go global. For the band’s newest EP, March of the Zapotec, Condon traveled to Mexico to partner up with mariachi ensemble Banda Jimenez from Teotitlan del Valle. The result is a rather stunning mix of trumpet, percussion, and Condon’s haunting vocals.

For the video “La Llorona,” a black dog wanders around a small Mexican pueblito, encountering members of Banda Jimenez as well as witnessing a church fire. The imagery and feel of smudged paintings give the video a surreal effect, which is appropriate considering the tale of La Llorona is of a woman who killed her children and then herself to be with the man she wanted, only to be rejected by him. Cold.

And, Oakland’s been a roll this week: “La Llorena” was animated and directed by artist Owen Cook. We can’t wait to see what the video for “The Akara” may look like if Cook decides to illustrate it.

Beirut – “La Llorona”

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4. Be In Beirut’s New Video
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