Conor vowed to be more open about his own life experiences. His current album, ‘Darling Arithmetic’ was inspired by a friendship with John Grant and the latter’s monumental song ‘ Glacier’. Conor addresses this on his new songs while he sings out for the gift of courage and he even tries to empathise on the lyric of ‘Little Bigots’. Almost fifty years of covert love, about shadows and disguise and fear. The sadness is deeper because the gay ballads of Ireland have always sounded like this.
He sings about being “ half a person, half a monster”. The two men have run out of commitment, their emotions are all used up. He also realises that the affair is over. The singer watches “ all the pretty homophobes looking for a fight” and his joy ceases. But while they are kissing al fresco, there is a sense of unease. Two lovers leave the house, bound for the cobblestones and the crowds. ‘ Hot Scary Summer’ by Villagers is set in the rare heat of a Dublin evening.
