Villagers to release reimagined anthology Where Have You Been All My Life?

19 October 2015, 11:14 | Written by Laurence Day

(News)

(Villagers)

Villagers are releasing a new record called Where Have You Been All My Life?, and have shared lead single "Memoir".

The record has been assembled from tracks recorded throughout Villagers' career, reworked to fit into one cohesive narrative. Expect noises from all three studio albums: Becoming A Jackal, {Awayland}, and Darling Arithmetic.

It was recorded in a day at London’s RAK Studio with Richard Woodcraft (Radiohead) and Villagers' live engineer Ber Quinn. Many of the final versions were first or second takes, with those involved attempting to capture the "immediacy of the occasion" - there are no overdubs either. Cormac Curran plays grand piano and analogue synth, Danny Snow plays double bass, Mali Llywelyn plays harp, mellotron, and vocals, and Gwion Llywelyn plays drums, flugelhorn, and vocals.

As well as interpretations of Villagers' music, the collection features a new version of "Memoir", which was originally written by Villagers' Conor O'Brien for Charlotte Gainsbourg's 2011 record Stage Whisper.

In addition to the new release, Villagers has announced a series of new UK and Ireland shows for early 2016 to coincide with the release.

Where Have You Been All My Life? is due out on 8 January 2016 via Domino. It follows Darling Arithmetic, which was released earlier this year.

Stream "Memoir" below. The LP's tracklist and Villagers' upcoming shows can be found after.

Tracklist:

1. Set the Tigers Free
2. Everything I Am is Yours
3. My Lighthouse
4. Courage
5. That Day
6. The Soul Serene
7. Memoir
8. Hot Scary Summer
9. The Waves
10. Darling Arithmetic
11. So Naive
12. Wichita Lineman

October

31 - Spain - Bilbao - Bime Festival

November

18 - Ireland – Dublin - NATIONAL CONCERT HALL *
19 - UK: Bristol - COLSTON HALL *
21 - France, Paris - PHILHARMONIE *
22 - France, Paris: PHILHARMONIE *
23 - France, Nantes: CITE DES CONGRES *
27 - Portugal - Lisbon - Mexe Festival
28 - Austria – Vienna - Bluebird Festival

December

13 - Germany, Berlin - Stargaze Long Weekender

January

26 - UK – Belfast - ‘Out to Lunch Festival' - The MAC Theatre
28 - Ireland – Dublin - Vicar Street
29 - Ireland – Galway - Black Box
30 - Ireland – Cork - Savoy

February

1 - UK - Newcastle - Gateshead – Sage 2
2 - UK - Glasgow - Oran Mor Auditorium
3 - UK – Leeds - Brudenell Social Club
5 - UK - Manchester - Gorilla
6 - UK - Sheffield - Leadmill
7 - UK - Birmingham - Glee Club
8 - UK - Oxford - Academy 2
10 - UK – Bath - Komedia
11 - UK – London - Shepherds Bush Empire
12 - UK – Brighton - St Georges Church
13 - UK - Ashford - St Mary's Church
15 - Belgium – Brussels – Botanique Orangerie
16 - Holland – Amsterdam - Paradiso Noord
18 - Holland – Zwolle - Hedon
19 - Germany – Dusseldorf - Zakk
20 - Germany - Munich - Strom
22 - Germany – Berlin - Postbahnhof
23 - Germany – Frankfurt - Zoom
25 - France – Paris - La Maroquinerie
26 - France – Rouen - 106
28 - France – Nantes - Stereolux