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Owen Pallett Is Great Outdoors and Indoors With Brian Eno in Two Videos

Owen Pallett, "On a Path," "The Riverbed," Oscars, 'In Conflict'

Owen Pallett is in the midst of an embarrassment of musical riches. Last night, at the first Oscars Concert, he and Arcade Fire’s Will Butler discussed their Her score, which is nominated for an award at the Academy Awards ceremony this weekend. The man formerly known as Final Fantasy also has a new album on the way, In Conflict, which is due out on May 13 via Domino/Secret City and features synths, guitars, even vocals from super-producer Brian Eno.

Today Pallett shared two songs from the album, the follow-up to 2010’s Heartland, and while both are lushly orchestral and instantly appealing — and both, according to Pitchfork, feature Eno — they’re also quite different from each other. Pallett said on Twitter  that “The Riverbed” (above) was a song for “stormy weather,” and it’s a turbulent, percussive setting for his detail-rich storytelling; the video, directed Eva Michon, stars the singer-composer’s uncle Jim and is powerfully dramatic.

“On a Path” (below), Pallett said, is a song for those who’d “rather stay inside,” and it’s more restrained and introspective; a lyric video by Steve Kado shows assorted objects from throughout the artist’s house. After Sunday, one of those could could be an Oscar; in a few months, on the evidence so far, In Conflict should be in yours.

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