I ordered a vinyl LP "Becoming a Jackal" by Villagers (aka Connor O'Brien). I saw him play live at the Scala supporting Fyfe Dangerfield last January and I'm looking forward to see him play in Belfast in September.

He is from Dublin, and mainly plays on the acoustic guitar. His lyrics are far from being twee and certainly very poetic. As with Fyfe Dangerfield, there are great melodies combined with a beautiful voice.

The Mercury nomination is well deserved.

I very very rarely buy new vinyl LP but his music will go well with the handful of records I have. And I'm always pleased to support releases by Domino Records who over the past years have had excellent bands.

Check him out.

Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
[www.youtube.com]
Villages - Meaning of a ritual
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
Villagers - On a sunlit stage
[www.youtube.com]

In the carnival is a sunlit stage
For the old of heart and the young of age
Every hidden part will be on display
On a sunlit stage - lyrics


In the carnival on a sunlit stage

Now I know you've come from a darkened place
But I'll never know how it feels to face
Your own epitaph, on a summers day
As the sun shines with a ceaseless grace

You're surrounded by hungry scavengers
That take the greatest care to befriend you first
As the sun come up they are well rehearsed
Then the sun goes down and the roles reverse

But in the carnival is a sunlit stage
Never in the dark of a morning failed
Your own audience will decide your fate
In a carnival on a sunlit stage.

Am I the only one here who's heard of him? Well I have his vinyl LP now and I'm crossing fingers that he wins the Mercury Music Prize.

I've heard of him, I'm just not overly fussed by him. It's pleasant enough when it comes on the radio but I don't think I'd ever actually sit down and listen to a whole album.

And I want I Am Kloot to win the Mercury, even though it'll mean probably never getting to see them in nice, scuzzy little venues again.

Oh yeah, I remember that you like I am Kloot. So they are nominated too? Good on them.

I'm looking forward to the gig by Villagers in Belfast, in September. The Black Box venue is very suitable for his music.

What I thought was very clever by Domino Records when they sell the vinyl is to include a link with a code where you can claim the mp3s of the album for free. I hope they do that with all their vinyl releases.

Here is another clip by Villagers uploaded by Other Voices, RTE - because they played their first gig last year in Dingle.

[www.youtube.com]

My little rule of thumb to keep an eye on the support band of an excellent band has paid off. Glad I went to see Fyfe Dangerfield in January. And I knew Fyfe Dangerfield because his band The Guillemots supported The Tears.

oh, he didn't win the Mercury. never mind, I got a taster of his live performance to look forward to when he comes here this week. Miranda Sawyer said lots of nice things about him (and about I Am Kloot)

Just shows you how well I know the people I've seen live. He was in that crazy Dublin band "The Immediate" and I have a great CD by them. They were astonishing to watch live because they were a quartet that switched instruments after each songs. And they supported The Guillemots in 2006. And I kept wondering why he looked so familiar when I saw him play live this year.

The Immediate: Big sad eyes

--> [www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com] -In Towers & Clouds

[www.youtube.com] - Stop And Remember

I should listen to my CDs more often :)

He's good but Colin Devlin from the Devlins is a far better singer/songwriter but has not received the same acclaim.

Oh, I'll look him up, Gerry. Thanks :)

He looks like he and his previous band The Devlins have received quite a lot of recognition too. Yeah, I could listen to a few tracks by him.