{Awayland}

Released in 2013, {Awayland} represents a significant sonic evolution for Villagers, the project of Irish songwriter Conor O'Brien. Following the Mercury Prize-nominated 'Becoming a Jackal', O'Brien moved away from the 'lonely boy at a piano' trope to embrace a full-band sound and experimental textures. Produced alongside Tommy McLaughlin in Donegal, the album is characterized by its 'more-is-more' philosophy, incorporating a string quintet, brass, and prominent electronic elements. This shift was partly inspired by O'Brien's interest in Krautrock and electronic pioneers, leading to tracks like 'The Waves' which feature motorik beats and synth-heavy climaxes. Critically, the album was a triumph, cementing O'Brien's reputation as one of Ireland's most inventive lyricists and arrangers. It successfully avoided the 'sophomore slump' by leaning into complexity rather than repeating the successful formula of its predecessor, ultimately winning the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year.