The Riverbed” is the first full track released from Owen Pallett’s new album, In Conflict, and showcases a more brutal tone of songwriting from Pallett with a building arrangement that ratchets the tension in its frenetic build.  Appropriately, the accompanying video compliments the mood with its own dramatic struggle.  The Eva Michon-directed clip was filmed in Los Angeles and stars career actor Jim Pallett as the protagonist.  Owen himself also has a small role in the video as “Jerk #4.”  “Typical Hollywood bullshit,” Owen says, about having his supporting role cut down to a mere few frames.

To compliment and contrast “The Riverbed,” a lyric video for “On A Path” is also debuting today exclusively on T: The New York Times Magazine. The New York Times piece includes a Q&A with Pallett on In Conflict, and his Academy Award nomination, alongside Arcade Fire, for Best Original Score (Spike Jonze’s Her).  Fingers crossed.

 In Conflict is full of love songs— more specifically, songs about liminal states and our loved ones locked in battle with them.  “The record is meant to approach ‘insanity’ in a positive way,” Owen says— emphasis on the ironizing scare quotes around singular notions of insanity.  “Depression, addiction, gender trouble, and the creative state are presented as positive, loveable, empathetic ways of being.  Not preferable, per se, but all as equal, valid positions that we experience, which make us human.”

Owen Pallett will be touring the North American and Europe with his band throughout the month of May.  Also, in conjunction with his continuing role in Arcade Fire’s busy touring schedule, Pallett will be playing with his band at select Arcade Fire after-parties alongside Phi Slamma Jamma and DJ Win Butler.  So far, we can announce the following dates:

The CD and digital album tracklist is as follows:

01. I Am Not Afraid
02. In Conflict
03. On A Path
04. Song For Five & Six
05. The Secret Seven
06. Chorale
07. The Passions
08. The Sky Behind The Flag
09. —> (1)
10. The Riverbed
11. Infernal Fantasy
12. Soldiers Rock
13. —> (2)

03/13/14 @ Adelaide Hall – Toronto, ON (Arcade Fire Official Afterparty, with Phi Slamma Jamma and DJ Win Butler)
05/13/14 @ Glasslands – Brooklyn, NY (with Doldrums)
05/14/14 @ Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY (with Doldrums)
05/15/14 @ Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA (with Doldrums) 
05/17/14 @ Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA 
05/21/14 @ Oval Space – London, UK
05/23/14 @ La Maroquinerie – Paris, FR
05/25/14 @ Volksbuhne – Berlin, DE
05/27/14 @ Lux – Lisbon, PT

www.owenpalletteternal.com