Owen Pallett 'In Conflict' Review: Quietly Ambitious

If you're looking for some calm, gentle tunes to get you into a sentimental mood, look no further than Owen Pallett's newest album In Conflict. If you haven't heard Owen's last album Heartland, you may recognize his work if you've seen the movie Her, in which he collaborated with Arcade Fire to add to part of the film's soundtrack.

Owen expresses his mastery over violas, violins, and synths in this album, creating moody sounds that are both lighthearted and dark, but never depressing. Each song is tranquil in its melody, creating a meditative, floaty ambiance that carries you from one track to the next.

There are a couple livelier songs too; "The Riverbed" is probably the most upbeat song on the album with a raging electric guitar pulsing the background, but that's as hardcore as it gets. The guitar riffs fade to a gentle rhythm carried by the viola.

Instead of being sensationalist, In Conflict stands as a personal work of art. It isn’t radical or over the top; it isn't trying to steal any spotlights, but that isn’t to say it’s not ambitious. In Conflict is simple and humble, yet emotionally complex. You can tell Owen worked hard to create a personal voice that aspires to be recognized. The album’s beauty comes through the music that expresses itself through its simplicity. That being said, I look forward to hearing more from this artist in the future.