{Awayland}

INDIE ROCK Villagers / {Awayland} / Domino Records This is the sophomore album of Irish indie band, Villagers, led on vocals and guitar by Conor J. O’Brien. The vocals sounds a lot like Brett Dennen or Passenger, but the tracks are a lot more diverse in style. Instrumentals range from pretty guitar picking to soaring pop synths to disjointed electronics wanderings.
No FCC issues.

1 My Lighthouse - Slow tempo. Pretty, melancholy guitar picking throughout. Crooning, delicate vocals very reminiscent of a Brett Dennen or Passenger. (3:00)
2 Earthly Pleasure - Quicker tempo. Whimsical and stylistically interesting instrumentals make it exciting. A building drumbeat behind ethereal synthy sounds and a powerful chorus. (4:10)
3 The Waves - Cool combination of instruments––electronic beat with soft piano and a maraca! Lyrics suspenseful/creeping, until a powerful conclusion. Almost reminds me of Radiohead. (5:01)
4 Judgement Call - Poppy and electronic. Lyrics are a little repetitive, but the synthy and orchestral ending is cool. Maybe a little Vampire Weekend-y. (3:23)
5 Nothing Arrived - Happy, upbeat piano. Leads into a conclusion that is celebratory and synthy, with some falsetto vocals. Almost feels more Americana-influenced. (3:46)
6 The Bell - Intro sounds like a spy movie theme song. The rest of the song feels circusy in a way reminiscent of Arcade Fire. The songs feels slightly disjointed, but that makes it interesting. (5:09)
7 {Awayland} - Enchanting crooning over pretty guitar picking. At half way point, introduction of a haunting and almost bittersweet violin-y sound. Beautiful mostly instrumental song. (2:35)
8 Passing a Message - Begins with a snappy drum beat and horn section. Fun piano break, but vocals lack the same delicate quality of the other songs. Never builds the way I want it to. (3:00)
9 Grateful Song - Joyful, soaring instrumentals accompanied by a kind of quiet pain in the vocals. Concludes poppy, beautiful, and purposefully epic. (4:25)
10 In a Newfound Land You Are Free - Slow tempo. Artistic and gentle use of soft piano and guitar picking. Vocals sounds to me like a lullaby. (3:31)
11 Rhythm Composer - Cool rhythm section and strings/piano that sound old-timey and romantic. Sultry horn section and cheerful background vocals halfway through. The last minute switches to pure electronic beats and what sounds like animal noises (?). It’s eerie. (5:07)