The Art of Pretending to Swim

Released in 2018, The Art of Pretending to Swim marks a pivotal shift for Conor O'Brien's Villagers project. Following the stripped-back intimacy of Darling Arithmetic, this fourth studio album embraces a much broader sonic vocabulary, integrating elements of soul, gospel, and electronica into O'Brien's folk foundations. Produced primarily by O'Brien himself, the record is characterized by its use of analog synthesizers and rhythmic experimentation, moving away from traditional folk tropes toward a more 'art pop' sensibility. The album received critical acclaim for its sophisticated production and O'Brien's continued lyrical excellence, which explores themes of faith, technology, and the human condition in the 21st century. It stands as a high-water mark in the Domino Recording Company catalog of the late 2010s, bridging the gap between singer-songwriter tradition and modern electronic texture.