Hadsel is the sixth studio album by indie folk band Beirut, released on November 10, 2023, through Pompeii Records, the band's own label.
The album is named after Hadsel Municipality in Norway, where frontman Zach Condon retreated after canceling part of the band's 2019 tour due to laryngitis. During his stay, he composed the album, drawing inspiration from the region's natural beauty and utilizing the local church's organ.
Hadsel received a score of 82 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim." Critics praised its ethereal and earthly sound, with Uncut noting its unique blend. Mojo highlighted the album's introspective lyrics, particularly on tracks like "The Tern." Lewis Wade of The Skinny commended Condon's layered compositions and emotive vocals, stating that the album fits comfortably alongside Beirut's previous work. Ryan Dillon of Glide Magazine described it as a "mind-altering" experience with gentle ambiance and soaring melodies. Ben Cardew of Pitchfork referred to "Hadsel" as "a new beginning for Beirut that sounds like old times," emphasizing its life-affirming qualities despite being born from solitude.
Comes with limited print of a design, made of Polaroids taken by Zach.
Tracklist:
Side A
A1. Hadsel
A2. Arctic Forest
A3. Baion
A4. So Many Plans
A5. Melbu
A6. Stokmarknes
Side B
B1. Island Life
B2. Spillhaugen
B3. January 18th
B4. Suddeutsches Ton-Bild-Studio
B5. The Tern
B6. Regulatory
Pompeii Records
2023
Vinyl, LP
Ice Breaker V
POMP011LPC2PRINT
N/A