Final Fantasy - Spectrum, 14th Century EP (2008)

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Once known mainly as the guy whose string arrangements made Arcade Fire's Funeral sound so damn epic, Owen Pallett has since sprinkled his pixie dust all over the place in the last three years, whether remixing Grizzly Bear and Stars or using his classical training to beef up releases from Picastro, Fucked Up, and Beirut. To top things off, the guy's just as awesome outside the studio, allocating a portion of his royalties to charity organizations, festivals, and struggling acts.

Unfortunately, Final Fantasy, his quasi-solo project, hasn't garnered him quite the same name recognition many of his collaborators enjoy. He Poos Clouds from 2006, his solid sophomore effort of string-laden pop, flew under most people's radars despite its catchy melodies and NES nostalgia. And now he returns with two new EPs. Being collaborative projects of a more conceptual nature, the limited-edition Spectrum, 14th Century and Plays to Please provide few clues as to what Pallett's upcoming full-length Heartland might sound like, and their experimental bent likely won't widen his fanbase. The releases do, however, attest to his technical expertise both behind the boards and behind the mic, allowing him to make the most of the source material.

Recorded with members of Beirut, Pallett describes Spectrum as a bunch of "fake field recordings." Peppered with chirping birds and croaking frogs from an outdoor recording session in Quebec, the songs definitely carry a Disney movie lilt. The askance melody on opener "Oh Spectrum" taps avant-garde jazz, and on moving standout track "The Butcher", even the meme-checking line "all their bases belong to us" cuts straight to the soul. Beirut outfit Pallett's strings with horns, piano, and percussion straight from The Flying Club Cup, and the steel drums on "Blue Imelda", coupled with Pallett's forlorn delivery, extend the parallels. Pitchfork