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Dec 01, 2009 Final Fantasy By Kyle Lemmon

Classical-pop experimentalist/violinist extraordinaire Owen Pallett, aka Final Fantasy, has a new LP, Heartland, dropping January 12th on Domino. His conceptual third full-length will feature guest spots from fellow arranger Nico Muhly, Toronto indie-pop artist Gentleman Reg, and the inimitable Czech Symphony. In a press release, Pallett describes the album as “one-sided dialogues with Lewis, a young, ultra-violent farmer, speaking to his creator.” There’s also something about a fictional world of “Spectrum.”

In 2010, Pallett will be touring again in support of his new panoramic long-player. Final Fantasy will do a west coast Canadian jaunt with the Toronto blues-folk group Timber Timbre as a special guest. This will be followed by a triumphant return to the Halifax Pop Explosion on February 10th. He’ll be playing a full spate of cuts for looped violin and voice, backed by the Nova Scotia Symphony. (Sounds fancy!) That date will be a special double album release concert with the Toronto pop singer-songwriter Basia Bulat. Her sophomore LP, Heart of My Own, is out January 25th in Europe, and January 26th in North America, via Rough Trade.

You can now listen to one of Lewis’ “ultra-violent” chats with his maker over in our Media section. “Lewis Takes Action” is a lithe track despite all the instrumentation flitting about its mix. A rush of violins, galloping trumpet, Phil Spector-esque drum hits, and plety of tragic falsettoed lyrics make for a grave, yet enjoyable listen. Spoiler: Somebody get’s a serious bludgeoning during the course of this track.

It’s also available at Domino’s site, in exchange for an e-mail. (Your e-mail also enters you into a contest to win a signed “Lewis Takes Action” 7”.)

Pallett has a week of semi-intimate gigs lined up near the release of Heartland. Check those out below. More dates will show up here.

Final Fantasy:

12-01 New York, NY - Webster Hall #
12-02 Brooklyn, NY - Bell House #
01-12 Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club
01-14 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
01-16 Chicago, IL - Schubas (Tomorrow Never Knows Festival)
01-18 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
01-25 London, England - Union Chapel
02-06 Guelph, Ontario - Sleeman Centre (Hillside Inside Festival)
02-10 Halifax, Novia Scotia - St Matthew’s United Church (Halifax Pop Explosion Music Festival) *
02-12 St. John’s, Newfoundland - Cochrane Street United Church
02-17 Kingston, Ontario - Sydenham United Church
02-18-19 Wakefield, Quebec - Blacksheep Inn
02-20 Montréal, Quebec - Theatre Outremont

# with The Mountain Goats
* with Basia Bulat

(www.finalfantasyeternal.com)