Having done a round of the festival circuit last summer, the fantastic Beirut are at it again in 2011, bringing their ethnic indie folk sounds to Electric Picnic this September. The reason they're on tour again so soon is that Zach Condon and co. have a brand new album on the way.

Following their 2009 double EP 'March of the Zapotec'/'Holland', the album is still untitled but is slated for release this summer. Speaking to HitFix Condon described the new record as "sunny". Having written the album in upstate New York during the winter months, he added "I write sad songs when it’s nice outside. I write warm and happy songs when I'm up to my neck in snow for three months."

Meanwhile, the band recently recorded a cover of Caetano Veloso's 'O Leaozinho' for a new Red Hot + Rio 2 charity album which also features Devendra Banhart, John Legend and several interesting collaborations, including Beck with Seu Jorge and of Montreal with Os Mutantes.

Beirut - O Leãozinho by allstarsandrew