Mercury Rising

I was on holidays when the Mercury Prize shortlist appeared, but I was reassured to learn that a lot of the Monday Late Show Regulars (Laura Marling, Paul Weller, Wild Beasts, Mumford & Sons) were all on there. And - great joy - so too was Villagers, whose 'Becoming A Jackal' has consumed my affections since getting a preview in March.

It's not a record that wears off either. On the contrary, the strange little images and splintered pieces are totally beguiling, hauling you into the narration. I'm not sure that there's an explanation for any of it, but like all great records, it encourages you to paint your own response.

It's such a great mix of dread and elation, insights and lockdowns. If I had to explain the tone to a stranger I'd refer them to Radiohead's 'Paranoid Android' - a song written about insomnia and the hallucinations that follow. Everything is vivid but twisted. The skin is thin and the emotions are amped up. And what's all that about jackals, snakes, graveyards and ghosts?

Conor J O' Brien steps into the music like the Ancient Mariner gatecrashes a party. He's got something to say, but it may not be literal or even believable. But his fables eventually wind you in, taking you to that place. It's not a Katy Perry party, but it's a location I've been visiting a lot.

Villagers play The Black Box, Belfast, Sept 9. See www.openhousefestival.com