Hark, The Villagers Wail

I was talking to Neil Hannon yesterday about the new Villagers album and he started beaming with approval. While I had been taken with the sound of the record (the rich melancholia of Jacques Brel, the orchestral shimmer of Marvin Gaye's 'Trouble Man'), Neil was elated by the lyrics of Conor J O'Brien. And yes, those words, ideas and sentiments are supreme.

Apparently there had been some behind-the-scenes issues about Conor's business steer. Cool indie label or corporate shaker? He had chosen the former. Meantime, poor Cathy Davey was now minus a great guitarist as her sidekick was now a front person and a singular one at that.

It was a pleasure to see Neil lit up as a pure fan. Meantime, a first listen to his new album, 'Bang Goes The Knighthood' reveals much charm, humour, lyrical flight and emotional import. We should never take him for granted.