Villagers Visit {Awayland} for January 15 Sophomore Album

Villagers, the acclaimed Irish folk-art/pop band fronted by songwriter Conor O'Brian, will return with their second album {Awayland} on January 15. The new project succeeds the Mercury Prize-nominated 2010 debut Becoming A Jackyl and was produced and engineered by O'Brian and Villagers’ guitarist Tommy McLaughlin. The band will tour the U.K. and Europe in October and November with most dates as the openers for Grizzly Bear.

From Conor O'Brian via the Villagers site: "So I sit down at my desk with a blank sheet of paper, a headful of ferrys and a small collection of half-written songs and all I want to do is to stretch my imagination as far as it can go. I sure as hell don't want to lose any intimacy in the music, but I need to take this intimacy into a more vibrant place. The furrowed-brow vocal seriousness which I used to engage with has no place here. 
 
And the musicianship is better than ever. My fellow bandmates make the songs sound as beautiful as they could possibly be. It's a diverse album. It takes you on a trip through a musical landscape, as a tribute to your sense of wonder. It travels through space and time and leaves you back for dinner. It might take a few gobbles. Maybe try it on headphones first, without interruption. I hope you enjoy."

Conor x

{Awayland} Tracklisting:

1. My Lighthouse

2. Earthly Pleasure

3. The Waves

4. Judgement Call

5. Nothing Arrived

6. The Bell

7. {Awayland}

8. Passing a Message

9. Grateful Song

10. In a Newfound Land You Are Free

11. Rhythm Composer