Villagers – Darling Arithmetic

Even the briefest scan of Conor O’Brien’s upcoming tour schedule screams – sorry, whispers – ‘intimate venues’ and sure enough, his third album under the name Villagers fits the bill for quieter, more hushed occasions.

Villagers’ two previous albums have managed to combine O’Brien’s polished songwriting and rich vocals with considerable bombast, so there’s no doubting that removing one of those elements leaves a sizeable hole in Darling Arithmetic.

There’s some filler too. Within seconds of Dawning On Me and So Naïve closing you’ll forget they ever existed, but the Dubliner weaves in enough memorable melodies elsewhere to lift the album above the pedestrian. Little Bigot is a rare moment of volume and all the better for it; opener Courage is a pleasant meander and Hot Scary Summer overcomes clunky lyrics to become a high point. Darling Arithmetic may not be the loudest album in Villagers' discography but it’s a useful addition to their output.