Owen Pallett shares animated video for "Paragon of Order"
Photo credit: Yuula Benivolski

Owen Pallett shares animated video for "Paragon of Order"

“a celestial cosmic opera” – NPR Music

Oscar-nominated composer and songwriter Owen Pallett is sharing “Paragon Of Order,” the first in a series of videos animated by Eric Kostiuk Williams.  The song is from Owen’s latest album Island, and the second video will be released on December 14th. Pallett describes the two songs as “an extroverted coda to an introverted album.”

Island is out now digitally; pre-orders of standard CD and 2xLP are now available from Domino (and Secret City in Canada), for release March 5, 2021. A special LP bundle is also available, including the 2xLP and an accompanying limited edition LP featuring 9 Island demos.

Watch the "Paragon of Order" video below.


Over the course of the past few months, Pallett has performed an NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, a World Cafe session and a WNYC New Sounds session, all from their home in Toronto.

Almost entirely acoustic, Island begins with 13 darkened chords, and was recorded live at Abbey Road Studios with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The introduction is the sound of waking up—alone, and on the shore of a strange land. What follows is a shimmering and luscious orchestral album that draws across the full breadth of Pallett’s discography, from Heartland’s Technicolor to the glittering, fingerpicked guitar that marked Pallett’s first records with their trio, Les Mouches.

Island is about being alive, asking why, and all the most hideous stuff of life. The songs don't divulge the answers.  "I don't know what's happening next, guys," Pallett warns. 

For the first time, Pallett—who has a lifetime of classical training—created an album without brooding over the way it might be performed on stage. This wasn’t easy:  Pallett’s initial reputation was founded on their live virtuosity, playing violin for groups including Arcade Fire and the Hidden Cameras, and a solo fiddle and loop-pedal act, under the name Final Fantasy. Pallett’s second release as Final Fantasy, 2006’s He Poos Clouds, was awarded the inaugural Polaris Music Prize.

Owen Pallett Island

Album | 22nd May 2020

Island is the latest album from Oscar-nominated composer and songwriter Owen Pallett.  Almost entirely acoustic, Island begins with 13 darkened chords, and was recorded live at Abbey Road Studios with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The introduction is sound of waking up alone, and on the shore of a strange land. What follows is a shimmering and luscious orchestral album that draws across the full breadth of Pallett’s discography, from Heartland’s Technicolor to the glittering, fingerpicked guitar that marked Pallett’s first records with their trio, Les Mouches. 

Tracklisting

  • 1---> (i)
  • 2Transformer
  • 3Paragon Of Order
  • 4---> (ii)
  • 5The Sound of The Engines
  • 6Perseverance Of The Saints
  • 7Polar Vortex
  • 8---> (iii)
  • 9A Bloody Morning
  • 10Fire-Mare
  • 11Lewis Gets Fucked Into Space
  • 12---> (iv)
  • 13In Darkness
  • 14Paragon Of Order (version)
  • 15Fire-Mare (version)

Owen Pallett Island

Album | 22nd May 2020

Island is the latest album from Oscar-nominated composer and songwriter Owen Pallett.  Almost entirely acoustic, Island begins with 13 darkened chords, and was recorded live at Abbey Road Studios with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The introduction is sound of waking up alone, and on the shore of a strange land. What follows is a shimmering and luscious orchestral album that draws across the full breadth of Pallett’s discography, from Heartland’s Technicolor to the glittering, fingerpicked guitar that marked Pallett’s first records with their trio, Les Mouches. 

Tracklisting

  • 1---> (i)
  • 2Transformer
  • 3Paragon Of Order
  • 4---> (ii)
  • 5The Sound of The Engines
  • 6Perseverance Of The Saints
  • 7Polar Vortex
  • 8---> (iii)
  • 9A Bloody Morning
  • 10Fire-Mare
  • 11Lewis Gets Fucked Into Space
  • 12---> (iv)
  • 13In Darkness
  • 14Paragon Of Order (version)
  • 15Fire-Mare (version)
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