Owen Pallett drops the Final Fantasy moniker on his third album Heartland primarily due to copyright issues with the video game of the same name. Heartland is a polished album recorded over nine months in four countries resulting in 12 tracks that combine expansive ambient textures with looped violin and vocals while still being playful. Heartland is a charming record with vision and creativity, while maintaining a warm quality that should make Pallet’s music accessible to a wider audience. Standout tracks include “The Great Elsewhere” and “Keep the Dog Quiet,” a highly orchestrated song with throbbing strings, rumba shakers, and a grandiose baroque climax. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, Brian Eno, Final Fantasy, The Hidden Cameras, Nico Muhly, Joanna Newsom, Sufjan Stevens, Patrick Wolf