Owen Pallett- Heartland
Wed 10 Feb 2010
Owen Pallett- Heartland
10/10
Owen Pallett – who once played as Final Fantasy, has released his first album under his own name. Heartland is a concept album about an ultra-violent farmer named Lewis living in the fictional world of Spectrum. It’s strikingly original, and an early contender for album of the year. Pallett has kept all the best elements of Final Fantasy (looped violin/string arrangements, great vocals), and added in richer layers of electronics and intricate percussion. With whimsical strings, many of the songs have the feeling of 1940s cinema, and it would seem easy to adapt this to film; at the heart of the album is an incredible story. Heartland is lyrically astonishing. Pallett has created a vivid world of true emotion with characters who struggle with their own identity. It explores themes of loyalty, religion, passion and understanding, and will have you hitting repeat to once again immerse yourself – Spectrum has place names, cultures, and medieval battles that you will long to explore. Above all, this is a world created by Pallett, a fact Lewis is aware of. On penultimate track ‘Tryst with Mephistopheles’, Lewis defeats Pallett, leaving himself exposed – “How will they decipher me?” Heartland is very rich and rewards repeated listens. It is an incredible album and works together as a whole musical piece, to be listened to in one sitting.
David
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Excellent review, I was so tired of reading the word “moniker” in all his reviews (about the name drop) so it was refreshing not to see it. And to see someone go for it and give the album the 10 it deserves!