Artist: Owen Pallett (formerly Final Fantasy)
Album: Heartland
Label: Domino
Genre: Orchestral electronica pop
To be honest, I appreciate the name change simply because Final Fantasy games suck. Anyway, Owen Pallett has finally released a follow-up to his adored 2006 release, He Poos Clouds, and while the album name is certainly less juvenile, the music just doesn't hold up. Owen has taken a bit of a turn, possibly to fit in better with Domino's electronic ethos, and the result is an album that is less unique, less immediate, and less satisfying. That's not to say there aren't stand-outs, however. "Keep the Dog Quiet" is a traditional crescendo wrapped in French horns and pizzicato viola. For once, Pallett's inner brooding matches the musical tone, and it's a welcome change (although the production is very reminiscent of Planningtorock). "Oh Heartland, Up Yours!" shows that Pallett hasn't quite grown up too much, and again works well with negative space and short, pulsing basslines. Unfortunately, Pallett's orchestration, his biggest draw in an age that shies from classical pop, is noticeably restrained in Heartland. His synthesized work with Beirut has bled into his own releases, and a handful of songs here sound like The Flying Club Cup's B-sides. Heartland is still more than worth the price of admission, but I recommend you check out Final Fantasy's backlog before diving into this flawed beauty.
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