Villagers - That Day (Domino)
3/5
By: Liane Escorza
‘That Day’ is the third single from Villagers’ Mercury Prize-nominated debut album, and like the rest of the songs on Becoming a Jackal, it’s a dramatic tale delivered in a resigned form, somewhat jagged, somewhat tender, and with an overall sincerity nevertheless.
It sounds like the type of stuff someone would be probably busking all day long, however, our Conor’s addition of harmonious vocals, playful piano, rising melodies like a stormy wave until they crash into a fateful end while singing ‘I’m spitting words, but there’s no meaning’, makes for a much more soulful package. Interestingly too, ‘That Day’ is not an obvious choice for a single. Yes, it’s approachable enough, nice and simple for a suspicious anti-songwriters crowd, but it certainly does not represent Villagers as a whole.
Having been compared with the likes of Elliot Smith and Neil Young must be both a compliment and a burden to take in. I personally think it’s best not to mention any further influences, and enjoy the romanticism and fragility of his delivery, whether it’s classified as a rarity or something else entirely.
VILLAGERS - That Day by Pias France
Artists in this article: Villagers
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