…while actor James Franco is a crazy dude. Enjoy!

Also, make sure you grab your tickets for Owen Pallet’s shows in Australia in January 2011.

• Jan 15 – Melbourne – Thornbury Theatre >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 16 – Melbourne – Toff In Town >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 19 – Sydney – (Sydney Festival) Spiegeltent >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 20 – Sydney – (Sydney Festival) Spiegeltent >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 21 – Sydney – (Sydney Festival) Spiegeltent >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 22 – Perth – Fly By Night >> Buy Tickets
• Jan 25 – Brisbane – Old Museum>> Buy Tickets

Owen Pallett’s (formerly known as Final Fantasy) third and most recent album is Heartland. The album’s narrative concerns a young, ultra-violent farmer named Lewis and is set in the imaginary landscape of Spectrum. Pallett describes the concepts behind the record: “The album is about the beginning, middle and end of a relationship.  But it’s sung from the point of view of the object of my affection.” You can buy Heartland now from iTunes, JB Hi-Fi, or our sister store The In Song.

Welcome to The Land Down Wonder… a parallel universe full of chooooons! Stop short of the Land Down Under, press play, and jump down the rabbit hole – and you’ll find yourself in a world of indescribable emotions brought on by lovely phonics and super sonics. Yes, the passage to this place is triggered by glorious sounds and pure euphonious beauty – i.e. by listening to sweet, sweet tunes! OWEN PALLETT – HEARTLAND

Image courtesy of Emily Jackson click for full image

Oddities can come from space, a la Bowie. And they can come from parallel universes, a la Dr Who, Red Dwarf, etc (also from our everyday universe, a la suburban shopping malls and Donatella Versace’s skin tone). Owen Pallett’s music comes from another place altogether, one that is so brilliant it’s hard to comprehend, but…! Who cares – where it takes us is all that matters, right?! And that is somewhere beyond wonderful. Head to his myspace page, where his whole album is up for you to enjoy.

Press play and you’ll be flying with me, wonderlings…

And I’m not lying when I say flying! The second Pallett’s latest album, Heartland, begins, it’s as if you’re soaring through the night sky. The first track, Midnight Directives, could be the soundtrack to a spectacular spaceship journey past stars and alien kingdoms; elevating us to an imaginary world where the drama of the journey is only enhanced by the thrilling orchestral work whirling through the soundwaves. Man, it’s niiice stuff!

Keep The Dog Quiet is again tremendously exciting and one of my favourite tracks on the album. Hinting at darker places, it sends your imagination into overdrive, conjuring up somewhat-frightening deserted worlds that could only exist in the farthest reaches of our ear canals.

Flare Gun, a Fantasia-esque pearl of a track, is another of my faves; my mate and I could honestly not help but jump around like insane oafish ballerinas when this came on. Scoff though you may, I seriously dare you to try and resist doing so yerself!

The otherworldly moments just keep on a-coming, even in the more melodic and pretty moments such as Lewis Takes Action, Heartland, Up Yours! and E is for Estranged; sweet reveries as you’re hurtling along on your crazy cinematic adventure.

Yessir, Mr Pallett is a wee bit of a genius. No doubt you’ve heard of his violin/classical/string-arranging/generally-cool abilities. A very clever and interesting character. His second album was entitled He Poos Clouds. If that isn’t genius I don’t know what is.

Well, actually I do – the music contained within. A-freaking-mazing. And it was never going to stop there. Heartland is a completely beautiful, dramatic, string-filled adventure evoking film scores and flowers and fellas and flare guns and… anything you can imagine beginning with an F, really.

No pun intended. He was Final Fantasy. He’s now Owen Pallett. But don’t get it twisted. He’s still utterly, completely, forever and Finally, Fantastic.