Villagers – {Awayland}

Conor O’Brien seems to dutifully write about the uncomfortable truths of his existence. We who listen are caught between wanting to wince at such brutality and becoming voyeurs to the scene, perhaps knowing that at times he’s singing as much about us as he is himself. From the Villagers first project on Domino Records in 2010, Becoming A Jackal, the melancholy mood of {Awayland} now becomes bolder, with higher volume. Guitars gets louder and electronic sounds add punch to this folk mix.

And we’ll be there to right our wrongs
in the time it took to write this song
And we’ll beat the ghost with our bare hands
And we’ll skin the corspe, and we’ll love and laugh
and we’ll dance…

“My Lighthouse” sets the stage as wistful devotion in three-part harmony. It’s followed by, “Earthly Pleasures”, a fantastic tale of a song like weaving in and out of a dream as guitars clatter and strings lift. Rhythms of minimal electronic pulse usher in “The Waves”, recounting how the supernatural ebb and flow of justice and mercy have both lifted and smothered humanity throughout the ages. Onward, “Judgement Call”, one of the album’s poppier moments, recounts the tragedy when religion meets power to cloud independent thought and understanding.

I’ll make your world a living hell
I’ve lost the will to judge myself

“The Bell” is an exciting track complete with the swell of organ and strings, the announcement of brass, bright acoustic piano, and charging guitars. The disc turns acoustic, with haunting vocals at the start of the title track, “{Awayland}”. While the tracks that follow mimic similar acoustic and electronic surges, they don’t feel as connected to the previous tracks with “Rhythm Composer”, the album’s end, especially so. With that said, Conor O’ Brien and his band have definitely made a statement with {Awayland} that is far from any hint of a sophomore slump.

Read more on GLM:

• TuneCrush: Villagers “Becoming A Jackal”
• TuneCrush: Cat Dowling “The Well Runs Dry”
• Holiday Memories Q&A with Haley Dreis
• TuneCrush: She’s A Beauty “Too Much Confusion”