Villagers’ most recent record {Awayland} might just have scooped the prize for Hot Press Irish Album of the Year but main man Conor J O’Brien has already set his eyes on the band’s third LP. He revealed that he already has some songs in place and plans to complete the rest of the set in the early New Year.

“I’m going to spend January and February trying to write the rest of the songs,” he revealed. “I’ve got a bunch of them already. I’m going to get the head down and get them done, like Nick Cave going to his office every day.”

O’Brien also gave fans a hint as to what to expect from the new record stating that his writing would be less abstract this time around but that the sounds would be as varied as ever.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to write 12 songs that sound cohesive and similar. This one is spreading its wings. It’s more direct. I’m losing the metaphors and similes and speaking quite directly in the songs.”

There was yet more good news for fans of the Dublin band as O’Brien revealed that they were considering releasing a one off single in the coming months.

“We might release a single quite early in the year. I don’t necessarily think it will be on the album. I hope to release it in February.”

Villagers play their final show of the year tonight in Vicar St with orchestral group s t a r g a z e. The last few tickets can be bought from [link]www.ticketmaster.ie[/link].

Read the full interview in the Hot Press End of Year Annual which is out this week.