Ascending: Villagers

Villagers is the moniker adopted by Dubin tunesmith Conor J O'Brien to identify his musical work. After a brief apprenticeship with Cathy Davey's band and a group called The Immediate, the young singer-songwriter garnered some praise with a four-song EP titled Hollow Kind (2009). Appearances at summer festivals Oxygen and Electric Picnic followed, and noted music critic Jim Carroll wrote in the Irish Times: "Conor O’Brien’s band of merry citizens have been attracting plaudits all year long on the back of their Hollow Kind EP and live shows. A must-see for those who dig ragged pop, eerie folk and heartfelt, emotional songs and sounds."

The first full-length LP, Becoming A Jackal, was released two months ago, and is getting heavy rotation on TNOP's stereo. O'Brien wrote all the songs and played all instruments (save strings and horns). In hopes of creating a small groundswell in the States, O'Brien recently played acoustic sets across the country, usually in coordination with independent radio stations.

Here's a sampler for your ears. We think you'll want to hear more.

"Becoming A Jackal" (video)

"Ship of Promises" (official promo video)

"Set The Tigers Free," "Home," "Becoming A Jackal" & "Twenty-Seven Strangers" (Capitol Hill Block Party, Seattle via Nialler9)