In the midst of Beirut-induced buzz I might’ve under-emphasized the merit of Final Fantasy sets. Here’s some evidence from the May 8th show. He played this after wondering out loud if he should play a downer, and before Beirut joined him for the last song, “That’s When the Audience Died.”
“Took You Two Years To Win My Heart”
Previously
Night one of three NYC shows with Beirut at Bowery Ballroom, and Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy did not disappoint. He spins a colorful world by weaving layer after layer on his violin and then some on keys. His voice is crisp, sounding exactly like in recording (woo-hoo), though he did not hesitate to drop a line he’d started to try it again. In the meantime, he shared his admiration of Zach Condon’s projection, calling himself a “pussy behind the microphone.” On stage, Owen is easily humble, charming and funny. In addition to old favorites like “Adventure.exe” and “It Took You Two Years to Win My Heart,” he played some new tunes, one of them being “Flare Gun.”
(Photos and review continue after the jump)
Download “Flare Gun” from You Ain’t Picasso or Good Hodgkins (from the compilation Esopus 8)
or listen first:
Photo: Georg Schroll
Final Fantasy leads the pack in another compilation- Esopus Magazine’s eighth installment, Esopus 8, of which the theme is spam. As in junk mail. In “For Me to Say,” Frida Hyvönen sings:
Someone cared to send me
A letter to recommend me
To enlarge my penisSurgery and exercise,
Would I walk that extra mile to
Enlarge my penis?
Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy’s “Flare Gun” is less direct, involving fortresses, birds and beasts. Trademark strings and piano are in full swing. Entire album can be previewed.
Previously:
Release: May 22, 2007 / Arts & Crafts
I prefer Final Fantasy’s intricate string arrangement and casual production of “Peach Plum Pear” to the original by Joanna Newsom. However, Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy) has been outdone by fellow re-mixers on Do You Trust Your Friends, the remix album of 2004’s Set Yourself On Fire by Stars. For “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead,” Owen’s remix is blatantly sad, which, to be fair, is problematic only when compared to the assortment of moods the original pulls off. The string arrangement here is more traditional than what we’ve heard before, and Owen’s put work into a fornlorn composition for the piano instead. For the most part, however, I’m of the opinion that trustworthy friends have outdone Stars themselves.