It’s hard to believe that over a decade has passed since Conor O’Brien first caught our ears with 'Becoming A Jackal'. In the ebb and flow since, we’ve had something kind of wonderful every few years - from 'Awayland' to the 'Art Of Pretending To Swim'. It’s high time we had a new offering, given that we’ve all been half-starved of late and here it is. 'Fever Dreams' - the somewhat perfectly titled new album that takes O’Brien onto another level altogether.
‘Fever Dreams’ is signature Villagers. But, there’s a curious blend of confidence and vulnerability in this mix. Experimental, poking fun (mainly at himself), taking risks, and psyching out himself in true O’Brien style, ‘Fever Dreams’ is as introspective as we’ve come to expect, yet it’s oddly tender, quaint and really quite sweet at times.
It’s as if the past, present, and future have been put in a blender just for the sake of seeing what comes out.
I like it but then Villagers can do no wrong in my view.
There’s also that multi-textured sound, sudden blasts of brass, undertones of bass, overtones of other-worldliness. ‘Fever Dreams’ is spiritual, shamanic, secretive, and sensual. It’s Pandora’s Box.
The never-ending search for the big meta-physical questions plagues this artist still, opening with the 47-second intro ‘Something Bigger’. That kicks off the dreamscape for the next 45 minutes or so, quite literally ‘Fever Dreams’ in motions.
It’s all a little bit trippy.
O’Brien always manages to make us feel like he’s hovering on the outside looking in – a bystander, slightly removed from his body, and finding this existence oddly askew. Tongue often firmly in cheek, he casts a wry eye, perpetually puzzled.
Mesmerising and escapist, it’s just what we need right now.
Stand out tracks are certainly ‘The First Day’, quite joyful, playful, yet wistful too; and ‘So Simpatico’. Both immediately stick in mind and matter.
‘Song In Seven’ takes some interesting twists and turns. The rest is a journey as if on a fever dream of your own, not quite sure where it’s taking you.
While we’re all still missing live music, and starting to dip our toes back into the big wide world, ‘Fever Dreams’ is more than welcome – a musical highlight of the year so far from the award-winning Villagers.
In summary, the record is what I believe we call these days “a fully immersive experience”, which kind of fits well with the cover image – a floating body in a swimming pool watched over by a very large brown bear.
‘Fever Dreams’, whatever can it all mean?