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Far more people know Owen Pallett’s work than realise that they know it. As an orchestral arranger for acts including Arcade Fire, The Last Shadow Puppets and Mika, Pallett has a radio-play CV to rival the household names he works with. As a solo artist, however, he remains a fringe interest on the wider music scene.
Performing under the less than unique stage name Final Fantasy (which he dropped ahead of his new album – the first to be released in Japan), Pallett has carved out a reputation for his unusual performance style. Ordinarily taking to the stage alone with a violin and keyboard, his gigs centre on skilled playing expanded by the use of loop and other effects pedals. His set in Manchester started in the usual fashion, with concise and clever versions of ‘The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead’ and ‘This is the Dream of Win & Regine’, two songs from his debut album, introducing him to the audience.
However, in successive albums, Pallett’s accompaniment of choice has developed from solo violin to string quartet to (on recent album Heartland) a full orchestra. With it, his live show has been revamped to include further instrumental backing, in the form of an animated new musical partner Thomas Gill, who joined him on stage for the remainder.
Gill’s unique contribution on various instruments, vocals and whistling allowed for a more complete realisation of songs as complexly arranged as ‘The Great Elsewhere’, whereas other songs including the rhythmic ‘Keep the Dog Quiet’ and tight miniature ‘Many Lives -> 49MP’ were all the more entertaining for his musicianship and occasional interpretive dancing. His efforts were often so impressive that it seemed Pallett might have been waiting all these years to meet an accompanist worthy of matching his own precocious performance.
In keeping with the relaxed atmosphere of the show (the Deaf Institute is a far cry from the ‘converted church’ kind of venue Pallett has often performed in) the floor was opened to requests later on. A couple of crowd members’ rather overzealous call for old favourite ‘This Lamb Sells Condos’ led to one of the performances of the night, before the duo closed with the soaring ‘Tryst with Mephistopheles’.
With his creative output showing no sign of relenting, Owen Pallett is unlikely to see a major breakthrough anytime soon. Still, with his latest album offering up some electrifying live turns, he will be sure to continue charming those who turn their attention his way.
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