Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

New Music Monday: Villagers

new music monday villagers
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Villagers - Darling Arithmetic coverHaving had their first two albums nominated for the Mercury Prize, Villagers will release their third full-length, Darling Arithmetic, on Tuesday (April 14) via Domino.

Band-leader Conor O’Brien retreated home to his loft in the coastal town of Malahide outside of Dublin, Ireland to create the album. Villagers has always been O’Brien’s project, but Darling Arithmetic takes that idea even further. He wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed the album alone at home.

Fans of Villagers’ previous records will find much to enjoy on the new album. Themes from {Awayland} and Becoming a Jackal like desire, obsession, lust, loneliness, and confusion, return in deeper and more-developed forms. The record is an intimate affair, focusing entirely on love and relationships.

The instrumentation, too, finds itself in a much more intimate space. Darling Arithmetic features piano, mellotron, and brushes all performed by O’Brien himself. Unlike Villagers’ previous efforts, Darling Arithmetic focuses on those few instruments with renewed intensity. The record is less experimental in sound and scope than their previous two albums, but this ultimately makes room for a more consolidated and focused sound on Darling Arithmetic.

Since the release of Becoming a Jackal Conor O’Brien’s aim has always looked to be a troubadour, and Darling Arithmetic solidifies that. The reduced emphasis on experimentation and the corresponding increase in emphasis on subtle instrumentation and philosophical lyrics marks Villagers’ third album as a new step along the way for O’Brien. Though the record delves into familiar terrain, it does so with a new level of maturity for O’Brien, in which he investigates the idea that less may really be more.

Villagers’ third full-length, Darling Arithmetic, will be out April 14 via Domino. The album is available for pre-order on Amazon, iTunes, and Domino USA’s online store.

Dave Sanford
Former Digital Trends Contributor
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more
The 7 best classic fantasy books to get lost in
Even adults can enjoy entering the fantasy world
Man reading a book

Using the term "fantasy" when it comes to fiction, we are admittedly casting a pretty wide net. After all, think about just how many shows and movies could technically be considered fantasy, too. If. we're talking about classic, canonical fantasy, though, the net shrinks considerably. If a book is to stand the test of time to be considered a classic -- regardless of genre -- it has to be damn good. At the risk of offending plenty of authors and fantasy fans both of yesteryear and today, most fantasy writing ... how should I put this? In a few decades, it won't be on some future writer's list of fantasy classics.

I say all that as an absolute fan of fantasy writing. From the Game of Thrones books, our era's Lord of the Rings, to the novels of Neil Gaiman, to the Twilight series (except not that), there is a plethora of great fantasy writing being produced today. But if you're looking to get into the genre or are already an aficionado with a few gaps in your reading list, classic fantasy novels are always a fine choice, as are classic mysteries, classic adventure books, and on it goes across every genre of literature.

Read more
How do cigars make you feel? My experience as a cigar smoker
Man smoking a cigar in a newsboy cap outside.

Most enthusiasts and cigar lovers smoke for more than just the appearance. In other words, it's not about looking cool or suave but about the experience itself. Smoking a good cigar is flavorful, pleasurable, and relaxing, and, on occasion, may even make you feel light-headed or give you a slight buzz -- although it's nothing like drinking or imbibing other common substances. For someone who's never smoked before or is interested in getting into the hobby, wondering just how cigars make you feel is a valid concern. What can you expect, and what is it about cigars that change the experience for better or worse?
How does a cigar make you feel?

For the most part, a cigar experience is pleasurable and relaxing, but nothing more. You don't smoke to feel something, so it's not like drinking alcohol or taking other substances in the sense that you're doing it to chase a particular feeling. If you like drinking for the taste or the flavors, that's the best comparison to smoking a cigar. A good cigar will be aromatic but also leaves a lot of nuanced flavor on your tongue and, if you retro-hale, in your nostrils. You'll get hints of chocolate, coffee, leather, spice, and maybe even some sweet tones like fruit. It depends on the cigar and the blend.

Read more