The brainchild of musical wunderkind Conor O’Brien, Villagers chalked up some remarkable achievements early on, among them, Ireland’s Choice Prize and consecutive Mercury Prize nominations for their first two albums. O’Brien previously played every note, but eventually yielded responsibilities to an actual band, allowing more instrumentation to illuminate his introspection. O’Brien still steers Villagers’ vision, given that the evocative arrangements continue to reflect his solitary style. Consequently, the superb Darling Arithmetic combines ethereal imagery, a hushed gaze and an intimate perspective. O’Brien’s cerebral stance also makes for some especially beautiful moments, particularly “Hot Scary Summer” (a song that boasts more aura than horror), “The Soul Serene” (a languid respite that effectively complements its title) and even the sound of seagulls bonding the two tracks together. And when O’Brien holds that lingering note on the album’s final entry, the modestly dubbed “So Naive,” the emotional investment is both calculated and confirmed.