Villagers – ‘That Golden Time’ album review: an honest ode to the power of vulnerability

Name: Villagers - That Golden Time
Rating: 4

Kelly Murphy

Thu 9 May 2024 15:58, UK

Villagers - 'That Golden Time'

THE SKINNY: Funny enough, rarely does it ever feel like an album has one over on you. Most of the time, the cynical corners of your mind scrutinise for flaws so that you can set it aside as nothing more than another failed attempt at masking pretence. Villagers‘ latest offering, That Golden Time, is different. Not only does its mastermind, Conor O’Brien’, carry within his gorgeous vocalisation a well-considered invite into his vulnerable world, but his more sinister lamentation arrives blanketed in a hopeful outer layer.

Quiet contemplation is usually Villagers’ bag, but this time, the delicate instrumentation and haunting melodies offer a multiplex of various musings, from hope to despair, all neatly packaged in O’Brien’s ethereal crooning and intricate mitosis of accessible themes. Villagers might have carved out a unique niche in indie rock since their beginnings, but That Golden Time leans into these distinctive qualities, confident in its ability to tear up any pre-existing pretence.

That Golden Time is a secret whispered in your ear, a glimpse at flying too close to the flame, and the palpability of internalising self-reflection wrapped in one. The delicacy of the piano work might lead you to feel secure and safe in its warm embrace. Still, the broader alternative and jazz sensibilities offer solemnity where it counts, realistic in their presentation of textual realities.

The cynicism reflected in the album artwork beautifully compliments the album’s vulnerable undertones while providing a natural connection to the curtain call. Criticising realism, currency, modern greed, and more, ‘Money On The Mind’ is honest and raw, neatly pulling together all of the things that make That Golden Time a worthy listen.

For fans of: Putting off getting your phone screen fixed, partially because you can’t afford it but mostly because you secretly think the cracked black mirror makes you seem more mysterious.

A concluding comment from my grandma: “This is lovely…” the rest is TBC: she fell asleep halfway through ‘Truly Alone’.

That Golden Time track by track:

Release Date: May 10th | Label: Domino | Producer: Conor O’Brien

‘Truly Alone’: It’s a real indicator of character strength if you can force yourself to stop and think, applying self-reflection as a means of growing and bettering yourself. Most of us look to others for validation, but finding it within yourself is the real challenge. Whether it’s intended or not, ‘Truly Alone’ feels like an ode to that feeling. Being alone is never a bad thing, and often, it’s a challenge to sit in silence, but this track reminds you of the sheer power of finding comfort in the slowness of solitude. [3.5/5]

‘First Responder’: One of Villagers’ greatest strengths is poetic lyricism, which urges you to view various aspects of life and existence through a different, oftentimes abstract, lens. “Spending my days cursing disparity while you make the money and give it to charity,” O’Brien sings, detailing the difference between romanticism and realism, which is often a fine line. It is a softly spoken type of criticism, but one perhaps most of us need to hear. [4/5]

‘I Want What I Don’t Need’: There’s a specific type of reconciliation Villagers offer in ‘I Want What I Don’t Need’. While detailing different observations about everyday life, O’Brien realises the truth about materialistic fixations, noting the importance of a more visceral existence. [4/5]

‘You Lucky One’: “I’m still here,” O’Brien croons in ‘You Lucky One’, accompanied by guitar grooves that add extra flair to an already upbeat song. This is an almost five-minute offer of respite between the more cynical sounds as the singer navigates the complexities of joyful epiphanies. [4/5]

‘That Golden Time’: There’s a psychedelic undertone to ‘That Golden Time’ that immediately draws you in. Its eloquence captivates your attention, while the lyrics keep you engaged. Lines like “Advocacy is not a brand” make this feel almost like a protest song, a suspicion that becomes closer to the truth after O’Brien sings the verse: “Before the keepers of the gate / Revoked your ticket to the land / Where eloquence was still in date / And everything was cash-in-hand.” [4.5/5]

‘Keepsake’: Maintaining the psychedelic feel, ‘Keepsake’ consumes in its haziness, the addition of electronic and experimental sounds perfectly complimenting the album’s broader effortlessness. [3.5/5]

‘Brother Hen’: “Selling lies like pizza pies” provides a notable example of O’Brien’s ability to infuse serious views with something more trivial as a means of demonstrating his point. ‘Brother Hen’ may delight with its laid-back appeal, but there are more layers beneath the surface. [3.5/5]

‘No Drama’: Criticising pretence is a huge part of That Golden Time, and most of it seems to be channelled in ‘No Drama’ as O’Brien sings about the overcomplication of wanting a simple life. [3.5/5]

‘Behind That Curtain’: The beauty of Villagers’ artistry reaches its pinnacle in ‘Behind That Curtain’, which somehow feels simultaneously like an exclusive, intimate gathering around the singer’s piano and a long-lost recording from an unknown artist. Neither of these is true, of course, but the images the song conjures speak to its power as an overwhelmingly sentimental ballad. [4.5/5]

‘Money On The Mind’: Reaching into the album’s themes of ever-evolving currency, ‘Money On The Mind’ feels almost satirical in its addressing of monetary motivation while remaining O’Brien’s signature rawness. [3.5/5]