Final Fantasy

He Poos Clouds


It is very rare, actually extremely rare that I ever buy an album simply from something I have read. I like to suss it out first and have listened to at least one song to judge before I purchase. I hate the risk of wasting my money, but after reading an article on Final Fantasy otherwise known as Owen Pallett I felt I had to buy this record. It talked of computer games, love, uplifting music and violins. It sounded obscure, unique- in other words something I would love.

So when I finally got my hands on Pallett’s latest record ‘He Poos Clouds’ (imagine asking for that in HMV) I had high expectations. I wanted this record to be as wondrous as it was described, and as soon as I heard the first 30 seconds I could tell that it was. The dainty violin weaves around the deep melodies of the cello as the quartet create bold worldly compositions. This music is classical, but written like an epic with repeating melodies but also a quick rhythm with a biting pulse. These compositions seem accessible but then only to a slight few. At the beginning of ‘Song Song Song’ a rhythm is created, reminiscent of Stomp as violins and cellos are hit to create a brash sound with odd plucking which develops into the background accompaniment to Pallett’s wispy vocals. The song is uplifting as Pallett describes the wondrous joy which springs from a young girl’s mouth. Then the song is turned on its head changing to a bold triumphant breakthrough with thick piano chords. It then picks up the pace, moving, gliding, peaking with a violin solo and then slowly dimming, dying away. This is my favourite song on the record and the happiest as the others turn to despair.

‘This Land Sells Condos’ talks of a loveless marriage, rejection among strings and a lively piano accompaniment. Pallett made his name through string compositions for the Arcade Fire (he arranged the strings on Funeral) and here the experience is apparent with the use of female voices deciding the fate of this woeful character. Also in ‘If I Were A Carp’ Pallett’s vocals are that of darkness, ‘do you really want to know of the underworld?’ he whispers to the tune of a wailing violin. The fast sweeping bass lines of ‘Many Lives -à 49MP’ are dramatic with the short shouts of ‘son you should invest!’ Listening to this on headphones almost makes your head explode. Pallett finally hits rock bottom with the chase ‘Do You Love?’ The violins and cellos guide you into this song, slowly flitting like a creeping sound effect from a cartoon. You can picture the story as the song catapults down with Pallett left singing, ‘The knife! The knife!’

Among all these created stories of love and loss though you do see Pallett’s autobiographical side. In ‘I’m Afraid of Japan’ we are shown everything Pallet wishes to be and in the title track, apparently about his love for Zelda, Pallett creates the perfect love song, even if it is about a fictional character.

Pallett claims that each song on this album (or the majority) are based around the schools of magic in Dungeons and Dragons. Having never played this or Final Fantasy, I may have a different viewpoint to those game lovers out there. All this despair and wailing may be a link, a theme running throughout to reference you game fanatics, but I don’t care.

I feel Pallett’s lyrics; I follow the stories as an enhanced guest in his world following the album’s dips and swerves. It is classical, but it isn’t about that anymore. Its about the love and the heartache, the strings come later in a different world of listening as they tease, guide and weave you through Pallett’s heart-on-a-sleeve storytelling. And all I can do is hope this storytelling is coming into play as he utters the last two lines of the album,
‘And I put down the violin, I leave it down, never again.’

Final Fantasy-Song Song Song