Last night, Irish outfit Villagers revealed another taste of the follow-up to 2010’s Becoming a Jackal LP with “Passing a Message,” in which the Conor J. O’Brien-led project continues to explore a fresh electric-leaning angle merely hinted at in earlier alt-folk inclinations. The first cut to surface, “The Waves,” was an impressive left turn for the group, yet we missed some of the introspective charm put on such fine display in their debut. “Passing a Message” above feels like a more organic, promising next step, and now anticipation is running high for the sophomore effort, {Awayland} arriving on January 14th via Domino.
Meanwhile O’Brien’s acoustic side is still readily at hand, as he stopped by BBC Radio’s Cerys on 6 earlier this month to perform solo renditions of new material and a reverent take on the Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning.” Hear him conjure Bert Jansch’s “Courting Blues” a bit for the live rendition below:
“Sunday Morning” Live Cover