HOZIER — ‘UNHEARD’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After touring relentlessly for nearly five years, Hozier has delivered yet another soulfull offering. ‘Unheard’ made it’s debut this weekend after clips of the first track ‘Too Sweet’ circulated over the internet causing apt anticipation.

In late 2023, Hozier delivered his fith studio album ‘Unreal, Unearthed’ inspired by his reading of Dante’s inferno during lockdown, which went down a treat amongst fans however shortly after it’s release, the artist began dropping sly hints that there was more to come. ‘Unheard’ is an unmissable four track EP comprised of work that didn’t make the final tracklist, each are emotionally charged tales of love, personal discovery and politcal landscapes.

‘Too Sweet’ was responsible for confirming the rumours of the latest release. Opening with a solid foundation of bass and drums, we’re immediately hooked by the punching rhythm. Lyrically, this is an interesting one. Hozier is known for his poetic love songs, glorifying his lover in metaphorical comparisons such as a ‘shrike to your sharp and glorious thorn’ (Shrike) or ‘sleep to the freezing’ (Work Song.) However this track writes more like a rejection of his lovers sweetness, listing all the ways in which they’re incompatible. To me, this indicates a maturity in the solo artist’s personal life that is reflected in his song writing- where he once romanticised his lover for being so sweet she gave him toothache, he now seeks a partner who lives a more authentic, unfiltered life. This track builds slowly each time to the anthemic chorus that urges you to sing along, bursting into a cacophony of seamless vocal beds that gives the track an uplifting nature.

Slowing things down with ‘Wildflower and Barley’, the long awaited collab with Allison Russel. Stripped back acoustic guitar and jazzy piano chords gently accompany soft vocals before percussive drums build the tempo. As the only duo on the EP, it stands out. Russel’s breathy vocals blend seamlessly with Hozier’s creating angelic harmonies that compliment each other so well, like the title may suggest.

‘Wildflower and Barley’ definitely has a much more cheerful tone than the rest, perhaps a nod to the change of seasons ahead. As always, Hozier manges to weave hidden meanings throughout the lyrics and this song paints a picture of the world healing after nature has regained a foothold, a referance to a post-pandemic world where people reconnect with the earth around them. Drawing from his life in the quite Irish countryside during that period where the world was ‘lying fallow’, Hozier illustrates a playful outlook to the otherwise eerie atmosphere he found himself in.

Harking back to his blues roots, ‘Empire Now’ is the most energetic and politically charged of the four. Opening with a deliberately slow pace and a foreboading feeling of melancholy, bluesy riffs on sliding steel guitars echo in a wide reverb creating space and tension. Getting straight to the point, Hozier tells the tale of a ‘sun coming up on a world that’s easy now, 100 years from now’- a reference to the political history of the country he calls home where British rule has slowly dissolved over the past 100 years. ‘Empire Now’ boasts a powerful structure. Layers of percussion, synths and guitars create a bed for the vocals to dance upon. Flitting back and fourth between energetic choruses and more mellow verses- the dynamic of which compliment each other strongly.

The EP rounds off with the aptly named ‘Fare Well’ where soft acoustic guitar brings you back down to earth. As we near the chorus, the pace picks up, quickly transforming into a captivating and heartfelt number that encourages a feeling of reminiscence and reflection. Similar to ‘Movement’ from Wasteland Baby, the chorus contains a staple of Hozier’s- layers of percussive clapping and warm vocals bathed in reverb creating ethereal soundscapes. ‘Fare Well’ is another reference to Dante’s Inferno. Much like the Hedge-hog under the wheel or the kitten curled up under the engine would not fare well, one who fights upstream to live with their sins in society will not prosper either. The shortest of the four, ‘Fare Well’ is short and sweet yet leaves us feeling wholly cheerful as Hozier has made peace with these sins, coming full circle.

Despite these four not making the original final cut- ‘Unheard’ is a welcome addition the discography. Symbolising the end of Dante’s Inferno inspired works, it’s any wonder what ancient literature he’ll reference next.