Video of the Moment #2887: Villagers

Next month will see the release of Conor J. O’Brien’s fourth album as Villagers. ‘The Art of Pretending to Swim’ makes its debut to the wild on the 21st of September on Domino Records. It follows ‘Darling Arithmetic’ from 2 years ago; read Carrie’s review through here. Single ‘Fool’ is a great taste of the upcoming LP, and it’s accompanied by a video from Irish director Bob Gallagher, often chosen by artists for his quirky treatments of their musical material.
Gallagher says of it, “The video is a surreal take on a marriage proposal, which is the ultimate gambit in love. The scenario pushes how much Conor’s character is willing to overlook his partner’s shortcomings, and convince himself that everything is fine. You could call it foolishness but you could also consider it a kind of optimism, striving to see the best in a situation.” In the video, O’Brien is a cringe-worthy would-be proposing suitor, singing the schmaltzy words, “So here is my bleeding heart / Will you be my falling star? / Will you take the pain away?” This version of Villagers reminds me of his earlier tracks and simpler days. Watch the video for ‘Fool’ below. For all of our coverage on Villagers here on TGTF, follow this link.
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