Founded: 2008
Location: Ireland
Villagers are an Irish indie folk band and the musical project of the sole long-term member, Conor J O'Brien who is a singer-songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland.. Widely known for his production, arrangements and thought-provoking lyrics, O'Brien currently releases Villagers material via Domino Recording Co.Villagers first came to prominence in 2010 with the release of their debut album, Becoming a Jackal. Released to critical acclaim, the album was shortlisted for the 2010 Mercury Prize and the Choice Music Prize. Their second studio album, {Awayland} was released in 2013. It won the Choice Music Prize that year and was also shortlisted for the 2013 Mercury Prize. In 2015 Conor released Villagers' third album, Darling Arithmetic, and the following year Where Have You Been All My Life?—a compilation of live reworkings of some of the band's best-known tracks. In May 2016 Darling Arithmetic won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album. The Art of Pretending to Swim followed in September 2018. Villagers' fifth studio album Fever Dreams was released on 20 August 2021. Villagers have extensively toured in Ireland, UK and Europe, and have made several visits to play in the United States, Japan, Canada and Australia.
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"The band is note perfect and O'Brien's voice undeniably affecting."
"Tender, intelligent and beautiful"
The audience seemed to feed off as well, becoming more and more responsive as the set progressed and even surpassing the band in volume a few times on Becoming A Jackal with their singing.
Three-part harmonies and the frontman’s signature war cries at a distance from the microphone filled the room to its corners. A real shame to play to only a modest Sydney crowd; their performance deserved so much more.
"I think that’s something that we do quite well as a group. I’ve always been depressed by shit music that doesn’t draw attention to the darkness in life – that depresses me."
And our own Courtney Barnett will support
There isn’t enough variation within the second half of the album, however, and the last few songs seem a little unnecessary and very similar.