It's a new era for Owen Pallett in more than one respect; not only has the Canadian violinist dropped his Final Fantasy moniker, but his third album is also his first for Domino Records. It's a brilliant record, marrying his penchant for strings with a new, semi-experimental sound.
He's may have gone from being an under the radar quasi-genius to a Pitchfork darling in a relatively short space of time, but don't underestimate Owen Pallett's capacity for innovation. The Canadian violinist and loopstation whiz, who has arranged strings on albums by Arcade Fire, The Last Shadow Puppets and many more, has become used to four-star reviews since the release of his exquisite second album 'He Poos Clouds' in 2006 - but he hasn't let the plaudits go to his head.
What he has let go to his head over the past three or four years is apparently a shedload of experimental indie and electronica music. Longtime fans of Pallett's string arrangements needn't worry, though; there's plenty of theatric interludes on display, too. For the first time, however, they're spliced with a new futuristic sensibility that enhances his unique sound. The best example of this new facet of his is possibly 'The Great Elsewhere', a song that sees Pallett's warbling choirboy vocals float dreamily over a glitch-speckled background, while streams and gasps of strings eventually give way to a high-powered drum beat.
Otherwise, there's a number of compositions here that cement Pallett's reputation as something of a visionary. There may be others practicing a similar craft, but none of them write songs as daring as the superb 'Lewis Takes Action', its rolling Motown beat gently colliding with streaks of uplifting orchestral flourishes, or the dark creep of 'Keep the Dog Quiet', which sounds like it was lifted from a '40s gangster movie's score.
As always, it's an album that's crammed with creative ideas that are tied together neatly and cohesively, yet simultaneously burst from the speakers in excited yelps every now and again. It's both new and old, serene and challenging, and it gets better with every listen. Outstanding.
