Villagers’ new release reprises previous recordings in an impressive reinterpretation of sound.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Release Date: Jan. 8
Villagers, an Irish indie folk band characterized by its involved arrangements and eerie vocals, is distinguished as one of the genre’s top artists. In their newest release, “Where Have You Been All My Life?,” they made the bold decision to produce an album consisting entirely of their previously released music that has been reinterpreted and simplified. So simplified, in fact, that the entire album was recorded in one day, with each song only needing one or two takes.
Villagers lead singer, Conor J. O’Brien, is no stranger to the unusual. In his previous band, The Immediate, members were known to switch instruments throughout a performance, with each person equally sharing bass and guitar duties. Though O’Brien separated from the group in 2007, he retained its quirky sound and affinity for the unconventional. In his new band, he draws inspiration from alternative, indie and folk genres, creating his own brand of music seen in albums “Becoming a Jackal” (2010), “Awayland” (2013) and “Darling Arithmetic” (2015). Over the past five years, Villager’s music has migrated away from its alternative ties to fully embrace O’Brien’s folk inclinations; “Where Have You Been All My Life?” recreates previously upbeat tracks in a muted, mellow light, hinting at the final stage in the band’s evolution.
The most apparent evidence of the evolved sound in “Where Have You Been All My Life?” is seen when comparing it with the band’s oldest album, “Becoming A Jackal.” Tracks like “Set The Tigers Free” and “That Day,” which originally featured a faster tempo and a steady beat created by prominent drums and guitar, give way to a softer sound and lighter instrument use in their newer reprisals. O’Brien’s voice, originally firm and steady, is traded in for a less substantial, smooth, melodic tone, allowing him to attach more emotion to his words.
However, tracks from their more recent releases like “Hot Scary Summer” and “Soul Serene,” both from the 2015 album Darling Arithmetic, are not altered nearly enough in “Where Have You Been All My Life?” to warrant an entirely new recording. The instrumental arrangements are only subtly different, and O’Brien’s voice is virtually indistinguishable between the two tracks. These releases hardly earn the label “new,” and taint an otherwise imaginative album.
Despite the album’s shortcomings, its fresh perspective and authentic, matured sound make it an invaluable component of Villagers’ repertoire. The band is very much in its element as it returns to its simpler folk roots, and will undoubtedly impress in the future.
