Conor O’Brien, Villagers (Photo: Andy Crossland for Live4ever)
Villagers are due to return on April 13th with the new LP ‘Darling Arithmetic‘.
The band was last active in 2013 with ‘{Awayland}‘ and the stand-alone single ‘Occupy My Mind‘ of last February. Since then leader Conor O’Brien has grown himself a beard which he’s proudly showing off on the video for new track ‘Courage‘, which can be seen on Live4ever here.
O’Brien has been busy writing, recording, producing and mixing the album in his converted barn loft in Malahide, near Dublin, dealing with ‘desire, obsession, lust, loneliness and confusion, and deeper into philosophical and existential territory, across a cast of lovers, friends, family and even strangers’.
‘{Awayland}’ was one of Live4ever’s essentials of 2013 after our review opened: “Villagers seem to have taken the pressure and anticipation for ‘the difficult second album’ in their stride. Whereas many artists would be tempted (or pressured) to repeat the formula of their success ‘{Awayland}‘ is a progressive affair.”
“Indeed, O’Brien seems to have tired a little of his more traditional songwriter approach and adopted other influences to keep things fresh.”