Owen Pallett – Heartland

There are several moments during Heartland, Owen Pallett's superb new record, where the songs reach a level so intensely personal and revealing that it almost feels uncomfortably invasive, as if we're unavoidably listening in through paper thin walls on Pallett tentatively starting a relationship that eventually dissolves into tears and anguish. But the intimate portrayal that reveals itself over the course of the album is so gripping and compelling that you can't really focus on anything else, becoming a nameless participant in the affair just by witnessing its dissolution. And if all that sounds like too much of a soap opera for you, nonetheless give Heartland a chance, for this wonderful album is far more operatic than soapy, and the arrangements are all quite lush and gorgeous, soaring effortlessly along with Pallett's dulcet vocals. The Meta-narrative is just a part of the story that unfolds on the album, with Pallett's lively compositions coming to vibrant life with the help of (amongst others) the Czech Philharmonic, Nico Muhly and the subtle drumming of Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara. It all adds up to a riveting, engaging album that surprises as much as it soothes, keeping you listening with rapt attention while allowing your thoughts to roam free along with the cadence of the music.The album kicks off with the glorious 'Midnight Directives,' which features the lines "Cross me off the short list," perhaps hinting at the distance Pallett has traveled, both musically and physically, since his last album, 2006's He Poos Clouds, won the prestigious Polaris Prize. But this album is far more assured and cohesive than that sprawling, fitful record, and most assuredly will find Pallett ending up on far more short-lists this time around when 2010 winds to a close. The loose narrative that runs through the album concerns a pugnacious, mercurial farmer named Lewis, who both loves and is vexed by his creator, cunningly named Owen. The fractured, volatile relationship between creator and creation gives these songs an added depth and tension, but ultimately it is the lively music that leaves you stunned. The arrangements are continually inventive and inspired, and practically leap out of the speakers, being so full of exuberance.Pallett knowingly nods to his illustrious musical background on 'Keep The Dog Quiet,' with the lyrics "My body is a cage, this union is a cage" that demonstrably alludes to his past work with Arcade Fire. But he's never been one to rest on past success, always advancing to the next creative challenge-some would even say dropping his Final Fantasy moniker and recording for the first time as Owen Pallett is another in a long line of musical departures that the artist has undertaken throughout his distinctive career. So this album ultimately represents Pallett's true musical unveiling, without shrouding himself behind a clever name or the work of another artist. This is his true creative essence completely laid bare, and, like I mentioned earlier, at times it is so stark and revealing that it's a bit unnerving. But on repeated listens you realize that the album is an open invitation, and the intimacy expressed therein is meant to be shared. And that communal aspect is what ultimately gives Heartland its tender spirit and pulsing life.The standouts on a record like this are numerous (the 'Be My Baby' drums that introduce 'Lewis Takes Action,' the rousing and brilliantly titled 'Oh Heartland, Up Yours!'), but ultimately the album should be absorbed as a whole, with each delicate piece fitting impeccably into the flawless puzzle that Pallett has crafted. The pace and tone of each track blends seamlessly into the next, giving the record an unwavering focus and immediacy. And the unvarnished candor of Pallett's lyrics only serve to add to the natural sincerity emanating from the songs, again crafting a bond between the listener and the artist that is quite rare in modern music. Pallett is able to restrain himself while also placing all of his proverbial cards on the table, pulling the curtain all the way back to reveal to us this fragile and genuine world that exists behind his eyelids. Whether it seems disconcerting or not to listen in on his anguish and vulnerability ultimately doesn't matter, for as listeners we have been openly summoned into Pallett's world. Sharing this opus is his ultimate unselfish gift, validating whatever struggle Owen went through to finish this affecting, absorbing album, and proving that the end result, especially when it's as beguiling as Heartland, is often completely worth the suffering and the pain that life (and art) often puts us through.

Buy the album from [itunes link="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/midnight-directives-max-tundra/id347560715?uo=4" title="Owen Pallett - Heartland" text="iTunes"]