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Villagers perform in The Current studios

  Play Now [17:00]

by Steve Seel and Villagers

September 22, 2010

Villagers
Up-and-coming Irish rockers Villagers.
Photo by Simon Houston / Courtesy of Domino Records

Villagers' debut album "Becoming A Jackal" has been named the greatest Irish album since U2's debut "Boy" back in 1980. That's a hefty title to live up to, but frontman Conor J. O'Brien does it admirably.

Mixing sparse arrangements alongside chamber-folk, the lyrics of O'Brien's haunting voice capture a lonely but hopeful time. Villagers recorded "Becoming a Jackal" in an attic, and allowed themselves free reign with their creativity during the process of putting together the album. The band's ambitions were encouraged, not curbed, when they signed to the influential and adventurous label Domino Records, who have put out records by other risk-takers such as Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective and Four Tet.

Conor O'Brien stopped by our studios for an intimate acoustic performance and played, "That Day," "The Pact (I'll Be Your Fever)" and "Becoming A Jackal."