285:(2010), primary songwriter Conor O'Brien noted, "After two years of touring, I started feeling like the worst writer in the world. There wasn't enough depth to maintain my interest every night. There’s no way I can sing “My love is selfish” a hundred time and it continue to feel pure and true. I felt, in a very childish way, I had romanticized sadness, and I was using the music to wallow. Even the acoustic guitar started sounding terrible to me."
690:'s Scott Kerr gave the album a positive review, praising the contributions of the full-band recording: "The songs feel fuller as a result, and without the burden of playing every instrument, the Irishman has concentrated his efforts into his lyrics. The creative progression O'Brien exhibits here leaves no lingering questions of doubt whether he would succumb to the dreaded second album syndrome, and regardless of awards,
703:, Dave Simpson issued the album with another positive review, stating: "The dazzling imagery comes with a rollercoasting voyage through acoustic soul, brass and – a new development – electronica. Drake's gentle, ghostly hand is most audible in the damaged beauty of the title track and depression-conquering "Rhythm Composer". The soaring "Waves" and joyful, piano-led
659:
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244:. Slowly words started appearing out of all these ambient soundscapes I was making and then I picked up the acoustic again and learnt how to finger pick properly. The whole album is really a by-product of that steep learning curve." At one stage, O'Brien considered recording an instrumental album, inspired by
255:
O'Brien subsequently spent the next year recording rough demos for the album, before rehearsing them with the rest of the band: guitarist Tommy McLaughlin, pianist Cormac Curran, bass guitarist Daniel Snow, and drummer James Byrne. O'Brien noted, "After a year of working on my own, I spent four days
31:
1492:
1528:
288:
O'Brien's initial demo recordings for the album ultimately differed from the final full band recordings. The track, "Passing a
Message", was initially nine minutes long, with O'Brien describing it as "a big,
1286:
1542:
1506:
304:, lyrics about cities crumbling and people dying, sounds of fire and apocalyptic things." After rehearsing the song with the rest of the band, the track became "a pretty straightforward
722:'s vocals, stating that "O’Brien’s smiling-through-tears vocal that makes him sound like he’s going to explode with sorrow or joy at any minute is extraordinary."
260:
beds that I had made the song on. Stripping things back exposed the lyrics a bit more. Sometimes you can throw too much at something, and it just becomes weaker."
1296:
1113:
1142:
1043:
1604:
1572:
1051:
1018:
1087:
187:. Co-produced by band members Conor O'Brien and Tommy McLaughlin, the album was preceded by the single, "Nothing Arrived".
1370:
1403:
1322:
719:
1318:
184:
107:
256:
kicking them around with the band, and it just became more visceral and groovier. I got rid of most of the
1258:
1599:
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155:
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1477:
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346:
237:
180:
124:
43:
30:
315:, I can put that on top of that and build up layers. But with the band, it turned out more
311:
Regarding his band mates contributions, O'Brien stated, "When I am on my own, it’s like an
1351:
1327:
1291:
530:
492:
454:
297:'s writings. The album's first single, "Nothing Arrived", was at first, "a pretty mental,
290:
114:
908:
Cormac Curran – piano, organ, synthesizers, backing vocals, string and brass arrangements
1431:
1229:
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63:
1200:
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704:
298:
197:
1460:
1408:
1263:
699:
630:
580:
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312:
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102:
319:, you’re leaving white bits of paper exposed, so that nothing is too overworked."
1533:
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74:
1564:
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1233:
687:
379:
225:
293:
soundscape that peaked in the middle," which was inspired by astronomer
707:
stomp of "Nothing
Arrived" may be the best Villagers tunes to date."
718:
s Lucy Jones gave the album a favourable review, paying praise to
38:
1529:"Top 10 Independent Artist Albums, Week Ending 17 January 2013"
1538:
1502:
1375:
894:
Conor O'Brien – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
711:
694:
sees the
Irishman at his best, both musically and lyrically."
568:
905:
Tommy McLaughlin – electric guitar, backing vocals, mandolin
680:
The album received mostly positive reviews, and holds a
267:, Ireland, at live-in studio, Attica Audio Recording.
212:, primary songwriter Conor O'Brien was influenced by
1493:"Top 100 Artist Albums, Week Ending 17 January 2013"
744:
736:
123:
113:
101:
85:
73:
58:
50:
37:
23:
279:to the band's predominately acoustic debut album,
263:The band spent five weeks recording the album in
1252:
1250:
1066:unspecified figures based on certification alone
1287:"Album review: Villagers, {Awayland}, (Domino)"
902:, percussion, beats & samples, synthesizers
1223:
1221:
914:James Byrne – drums, percussion, lovely smile
684:score of 80 out of 100, based on 27 reviews.
196:(2010), the album has been nominated for the
8:
636:
586:
536:
498:
460:
422:
384:
1107:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1097:
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994:
326:
29:
20:
1114:"Villagers interview with Conor O'Brien"
733:
1136:
1134:
1079:
869:
1364:
1362:
232:and learned how to use that and got a
1201:"Reviews for {Awayland} by Villagers"
1064:
870:
365:
332:
7:
1195:
1193:
971:Conor O'Brien - artwork, photography
958:Ian McNulty - additional engineering
730:All songs written by Conor O'Brien.
175:is the second studio album by Irish
119:Conor O'Brien & Tommy McLaughlin
1112:McCormick, Neil (11 January 2013).
955:Tommy McLaughlin - producer, mixing
308:song about smiling into the void."
208:During the writing and process for
18:2013 studio album by Villagers
14:
1402:Mardles, Paul (13 January 2013).
1257:Simpson, Dave (10 January 2013).
1173:"{Awayland} by Villagers reviews"
977:Rory McGuigan - additional design
927:Jacqueline McCarthy – French horn
852:"In a Newfound Land You Are Free"
638:
588:
538:
500:
462:
424:
386:
183:, released on 11 January 2013 on
1573:Irish Recorded Music Association
1404:"Villagers: {Awayland} – review"
1259:"Villagers: {Awayland} – review"
952:Conor O'Brien - producer, mixing
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1430:Cohen, Ian (14 January 2013).
1369:Jones, Andy (8 January 2013).
1285:Gill, Andy (12 January 2013).
1019:Irish Independent Albums Chart
737:
1:
228:, noting, "I bought my first
986:Mette Svendsen - photography
240:and started making terrible
1565:"2013 Certification Awards"
1621:
1464:(319): 110. February 2013.
1371:"Villagers – '{Awayland}'"
942:Fergus Fitzpatrick - cello
1481:(189): 82. February 2013.
1475:"Villagers: {Awayland}".
1458:"Villagers: {Awayland}".
1355:(231): 86. February 2013.
1349:"Villagers: {Awayland}".
1049:
1042:
1039:
1036:
1017:
1007:
1000:
997:
980:Daniel Snow - photography
924:Sean McCarron – saxophone
859:
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373:
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340:
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131:
28:
1230:"{Awayland} – Villagers"
983:Enda Doran - photography
939:Claire Thatcher - violin
911:Danny Snow – bass guitar
204:Background and recording
1605:Villagers (band) albums
1432:"Villagers: {Awayland}"
974:Matthew Cooper - design
271:Writing and composition
1143:"Interview: Villagers"
190:Like its predecessor,
1323:"Villagers: Awayland"
961:Guy Davie - mastering
936:Alys Jackson - violin
933:Clare Hadwen - violin
1147:thestoolpigeon.co.uk
1088:"Home | Domino"
919:Additional musicians
328:Professional ratings
947:Recording personnel
930:Rich Hadwen - viola
830:"Passing a Message"
329:
1383:on 15 January 2013
1321:(4 January 2013).
1299:on 15 January 2013
1153:on 23 January 2013
1009:Irish Albums Chart
764:"Earthly Pleasure"
327:
323:Critical reception
156:Darling Arithmetic
1071:
1070:
1067:
1027:
1026:
901:
880:
879:
863:"Rhythm Composer"
797:"Nothing Arrived"
678:
677:
282:Becoming a Jackal
193:Becoming a Jackal
168:
167:
164:
163:
138:Becoming a Jackal
1612:
1584:
1583:
1581:
1579:
1561:
1555:
1554:
1552:
1550:
1545:on 19 April 2013
1541:. Archived from
1525:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1514:
1505:. Archived from
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1483:
1482:
1472:
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1465:
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1444:
1427:
1421:
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1399:
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1379:. Archived from
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1357:
1356:
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1337:
1335:
1315:
1309:
1308:
1306:
1304:
1295:. Archived from
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1149:. Archived from
1138:
1129:
1128:
1126:
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1109:
1092:
1091:
1084:
1065:
1034:
995:
895:
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786:"Judgement Call"
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333:Aggregate scores
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133:
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97:
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92:
33:
21:
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1510:
1509:on 3 March 2016
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1328:The Irish Times
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1292:The Independent
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1236:
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1199:
1198:
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1179:
1177:AnyDecentMusic?
1171:
1170:
1166:
1156:
1154:
1141:Traynor, Cian.
1140:
1139:
1132:
1122:
1120:
1118:telegraph.co.uk
1111:
1110:
1095:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1076:
1044:Sales/shipments
1032:
1002:
993:
991:Chart positions
968:
949:
921:
891:
886:
881:
871:
841:"Grateful Song"
753:"My Lighthouse"
728:
715:
658:
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648:
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608:
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558:
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493:The Irish Times
482:
477:
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455:The Independent
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429:
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401:
396:
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347:AnyDecentMusic?
325:
273:
206:
159:
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141:
94:
90:
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54:11 January 2013
46:
19:
12:
11:
5:
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1569:irishcharts.ie
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1040:Certification
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1030:Certifications
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185:Domino Records
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108:Domino Records
105:
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62:Attica Audio,
60:
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52:
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35:
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17:
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10:
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1228:Kerr, Scott.
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998:Chart (2013)
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875:
872:Total length:
865:
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748:
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731:
726:Track listing
725:
723:
721:
720:Conor O'Brien
714:
713:
708:
706:
702:
701:
695:
693:
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685:
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673:
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623:
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585:
583:
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571:
570:
566:
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535:
533:
532:
528:
527:
497:
495:
494:
490:
489:
459:
457:
456:
452:
451:
421:
419:
418:
414:
413:
383:
381:
378:
377:
369:
366:Review scores
364:
360:
358:
355:
354:
350:
348:
345:
344:
336:
331:
322:
320:
318:
314:
309:
307:
303:
300:
299:drum and bass
296:
292:
286:
284:
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278:
270:
268:
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253:
251:
247:
243:
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227:
223:
219:
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211:
203:
201:
199:
198:Mercury Prize
195:
194:
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182:
178:
174:
173:
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149:
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57:
53:
49:
45:
40:
36:
32:
27:
22:
16:
1576:. Retrieved
1568:
1559:
1547:. Retrieved
1543:the original
1532:
1523:
1511:. Retrieved
1507:the original
1496:
1487:
1476:
1470:
1459:
1453:
1441:. Retrieved
1435:
1425:
1413:. Retrieved
1409:The Observer
1407:
1397:
1385:. Retrieved
1381:the original
1374:
1350:
1344:
1332:. Retrieved
1326:
1319:Carroll, Jim
1313:
1301:. Retrieved
1297:the original
1290:
1280:
1270:14 September
1268:. Retrieved
1264:The Guardian
1262:
1239:14 September
1237:. Retrieved
1208:. Retrieved
1180:. Retrieved
1167:
1157:14 September
1155:. Retrieved
1151:the original
1146:
1123:14 September
1121:. Retrieved
1117:
1082:
897:
819:"{Awayland}"
729:
710:
709:
700:The Guardian
698:
697:Writing for
696:
691:
686:
679:
667:
629:
617:
581:The Observer
579:
567:
529:
491:
453:
417:The Guardian
415:
313:oil painting
310:
287:
280:
276:
274:
262:
254:
242:techno music
234:drum machine
209:
207:
191:
189:
171:
170:
169:
154:
146:
145:
136:
39:Studio album
15:
1600:2013 albums
1534:Chart-Track
1498:Chart-Track
1182:31 December
775:"The Waves"
317:watercolour
302:electronica
246:electronica
230:synthesizer
1594:Categories
1578:3 February
1549:19 January
1513:19 January
1205:Metacritic
1074:References
808:"The Bell"
705:Waterboysy
692:{Awayland}
682:Metacritic
357:Metacritic
295:Carl Sagan
277:{Awayland}
275:Comparing
258:electronic
218:Aphex Twin
210:{Awayland}
177:indie folk
172:{Awayland}
147:{Awayland}
127:chronology
80:Indie folk
24:{Awayland}
1437:Pitchfork
1050:Ireland (
1003:position
889:Villagers
884:Personnel
619:Pitchfork
306:folk rock
250:Krautrock
214:Radiohead
181:Villagers
125:Villagers
44:Villagers
1234:AllMusic
688:AllMusic
380:AllMusic
115:Producer
59:Recorded
51:Released
41: by
1037:Region
966:Artwork
291:ambient
265:Donegal
238:sampler
160:(2015)
151:(2013)
142:(2010)
68:Ireland
64:Donegal
1060:7,500
745:Length
624:5.5/10
374:Rating
371:Source
361:80/100
351:7.9/10
341:Rating
338:Source
236:and a
222:Tricky
86:Length
1478:Uncut
1443:8 May
1415:8 May
1387:8 May
1334:8 May
1303:8 May
1210:8 May
1057:Gold
876:43:06
742:Title
716:'
669:Uncut
226:Björk
179:band
103:Label
75:Genre
1580:2014
1551:2013
1515:2013
1445:2019
1417:2019
1389:2019
1352:Mojo
1336:2019
1305:2019
1272:2013
1241:2013
1212:2019
1184:2019
1159:2013
1125:2013
1052:IRMA
1001:Peak
866:5:07
855:3:31
844:4:24
833:2:59
822:2:35
811:5:09
800:3:46
789:3:23
778:5:01
767:4:10
756:2:59
674:8/10
574:7/10
531:Mojo
248:and
224:and
1539:GfK
1503:GfK
1376:NME
860:11.
849:10.
738:No.
712:NME
569:NME
1596::
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1023:1
1013:1
838:9.
827:8.
816:7.
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783:4.
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252:.
220:,
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95:04
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631:Q
93::
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