Final Fantasy

The Plays To Please EP finds Toronto violin wunderkind Owen Pallett covering the material written by Alex Lukashevsky, of labelmates Deep Dark United. It’s to Pallett’s credit that he produces as unlikely an interpretation of DDU’s menacing avant-blues as you would ever hope for. With the help of a Toronto ensemble known as the St. Kitts Orchestra and a cameo from Andrew Bird, Pallett creates a chirpy, highly theatrical suite of songs. Despite the melody-rich, almost campy orchestrations, the bones of Deep Dark United’s unsettling constructions are still perceivable under Pallett’s melody-rich patina, producing what is ultimately a thoroughly enjoyable listen whether you’re a fan of DDU or not.