It may seem a tad premature for a band with only three records to release an anthology, but Ireland’s Villagers prove it’s all about quality, not quantity. This compilation includes reworked songs from the indie folk act’s two Mercury Prize-shortlisted albums, Becoming A Jackal and {Awayland}, and Darling Arithmetic, released in the spring. Recorded in one day and made up of largely first or second takes, it finds singer/songwriter/creative force Conor O’Brien’s intricate orchestral arrangements more stripped-back.
The original version of The Waves is a tangle of beeps, glockenspiel, plucky guitars, piano, horns and backing vocals, while its new iteration employs just an acoustic guitar, subtle soundscapes and O’Brien’s quivering voice. Yet merely simplifying each song would be too easy for O’Brien. On some tracks, like Courage, he adds in sprightly piano lines and analog synths. While half the fun is spotting the differences between the original and the remake, Where Have You Been All My Life? is also an excellent intro to Villagers, a summary of five years in one album.
Top track: The Waves
