In Conflict

An Oscar nomination (along with Arcade Fire) for Best Original Score for Spike Jonze’s 2013 film Her ensures that Pallett is more confident and daring on the second studio album under his own name. Recorded in Montreal with the core rhythm section of Robbie Gordon and Matt Smith—with integral contributions from Brian Eno and the Czech FILMharmonic Orchestra—the album was written and produced by Pallett. It flows smoothly from orchestral pop confections to serious incidental music, underpinning Pallett’s many talents. “I Am Not Afraid” and the title track suggest serious emotional dissonance. But even when things are dire, Pallett finds ways to counterpoint with the bright and airy arrangement of “On a Path.” Like many of the album’s best pieces, it's a dazzling use of instrumental space and vocal technique. The textbook synth arpeggios of “Song for Five & Six” are transcended by Pallett’s silken vocals, which reveal even more on “The Secret Seven,” which makes room for a sublime string arrangement in its midst. For spiritual depth, “The Passions” offers an eerie moment of introspection.