Villagers’ has announced his debut album, Becoming A Jackal, which will be released on 24th May 2010 on CD (WIGCD253), LP (WIGLP253) and via digital download (WIG253D).

Villagers is the brainchild of Conor J. O’Brien, who has already toured Ireland, the UK and US and opened for Neil Young, Wild Beasts and Cass McCombs amongst others. Becoming A Jackal introduces us to Villagers’ narratives, poetry and melodic depth. Conor J. O’Brien’s clear and distinctive voice weaves a spell, delivering an album of beauty. From restrained to unleashed, from a whisper to a literal howl, Becoming A Jackal mutates, intrigues and beguiles in equal measure.

The lead single of the same name will be available on 7” from Record Store Day (17th April) and via digital download from 26th April. The accompanying, Ferry Gouw, directed video is available to watch below:

The full album tracklisting is as follows:

1 – I Saw the Dead
2 – Becoming a Jackal
3 – Ship of Promises
4 – The Meaning of the Ritual
5 – Home
6 – That Day
7 – The Pact (I’ll be your Fever)
8 – Set the Tigers Free
9 – Twenty-Seven Strangers
10 - Pieces
11 – To Be Counted Among Men

Villagers (Conor solo) performed at this year’s SXSW festival in the US and joined Tindersticks as special guests on their March UK tour.  Villagers (full band) supported Wild Beasts in Ireland at the end March, returning to London and then performing a series of headlining shows in Ireland in April.

Full UK and Irish dates are as follows:

26 Apr Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London, supporting Shout Out Louds (8.30pm)
27 Apr Madame Jojos - White Heat, London (9.15pm stage time)
29 Apr Old Blue Last, London (9.45pm – headline show)
1 May Camden Crawl, London, venue TBA
2 May Camden Crawl, London, venue TBA
19 May Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Ireland
20 May Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Ireland
21 May Roisin Dubh, Galway, Ireland
22 May The Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland
15 June Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, supporting Field Music (as part of Meltdown Festival)