Dublin has a long & legendary tradition of writers, & since Conor O’Brien adopted the name Villagers, the singer-songwriter-producer has joined the club with a rich & diverse body of work. The new Villagers album, That Golden Time, underlines O’Brien’s unwavering commitment to a uniquely nuanced, literate & melodic fusion of folk, pop & rock that has won accolades from peers such as Elvis Costello, Damon Albarn, Guy Garvey & The National. O’Brien released his debut album Becoming A Jackal in 2010. From a whisper to a literal howl, the record went to #1 in Ireland, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize & the title track won the Ivor Novello for Best Song. The more band-orientated album {Awayland} followed, it won the Choice Music Prize Album of the Year, alongside a second Mercury nod. Darling Arithmetic was a sparser step forward that revealed even more of O’Brien’s songwriting nous, suitably rewarded with the Ivor Novello for Best Album & his third Irish #1. The Art Of Pretending To Swim knitted Villagers’ multi-faceted approach with added soulfulness & rhythmic swing, a sound that the kaleidoscopic Fever Dreams expanded further. O’Brien is a prolific collaborator, writing for Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nico Muhly & Paul Weller, as well as duetting with John Grant & Lisa Hannigan, & performing with Andre de Ridder & stargaze. But it’s his own songs, & his own dulcet voice that has forged O’Brien’s reputation as Ireland’s premier melody-maker.

Patrick Watson

Patrick Watson

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