HOZIER - UNREAL UNEARTH
Andrew Hozier-Byrne has been unstoppable this year - with countless intimate performances across the world, a sold-out run of summer shows, meet and greets with fans in local record stores, and incredible promotion for his third studio album Unreal Unearth, Hozier remains a household name and delivers a beautiful and poetic piece of art with this album. With multiple mythological and literary references embedded throughout the Irish folk singer's discography, Unreal Unearth embodies what is so beautiful about his writing and talent.
Introducing the album with two tracks named after the philosopher with non-scientific beliefs, ‘De Selby Part 1’ and ‘De Selby Part 2’ set the mood for the rest of the record - they preface Dante’s Inferno and the circles of Hell Hozier alludes to throughout Unreal Unearth. The folk-esque yet haunting undertones of ‘De Selby Part 1’ are intertwined with Hozier performing a section of the song in Irish Gaelic - an impressive decision on first listen. Despite being labelled as the second part of the song, ‘De Selby Part 2’ is vastly different production-wise. The direct transition that immensely merges each song is followed by a jaunty and funky bass line that grooves and flows throughout. “I wanna kill the lights” Hozier sings as the funky groove possesses the song.
Standing out as one of the fan favourites, and a song that was played during Hozier’s intimate run of shows this year, is ‘Francesca’. Tying to Dante’s Inferno and the notion that if you become trapped in Hell with the person you love - it cannot be all bad as you stay with your lover for eternity - the song builds with powerful chilling vocals from the singer. “I tell them put me back in it / I would do it again” is the catchy tagline of the chorus highlighting the singer's passion for this literary lover. This song is pivotal in showcasing Hozier’s poetic and intellectual knowledge alongside his storytelling and vocal ability. The echoing outro replicates an ethereal heaven-like sense as he sings: “Heaven is not fit to house a love / Like you and I”, the religious undertones of this track are compelling.
‘I, Carrion (Icarian)’ follows the running theme of alluding to mythological stories and retellings throughout Unreal Earth - this one being the story of Icarus who flew too close to the sun. In this acoustic guitar folk song with snippets of a fitting string orchestra hidden underneath the vocal layers, Hozier sings: “I am lifted by every word you say to me”. Without saying I love you directly, the Irish singer is notorious for writing about love in a unique and incredibly poetic manner - this song is a prime example. “If you need to, darling lean your weight on me” summarises the idea that Hozier would do anything for his lover: he wants to take their baggage - make them weightless. Prefacing the song during a performance in LA at the Troubadour earlier this year, the singer comments on the link to the story of Icarus, saying he: “felt so breathless…he never knew he died''. Unreal Unearth is somewhat a retelling of these mythological stories throughout literature.
The second single ‘Eat Your Young’ becomes a focal point for the record - with its sultry lyrics and catchy chorus, the song has already become a career highlight for the singer. The alluring and seductive stylings of the lyrics “let me put my lips to something” mirror the brooding yet laid-back tone Hozier sings in - he is playing it cool in this track. The seamlessly written chorus: “so many ways that you can eat your young” again alludes to the third circle of Hell - gluttony. The production bouncing around the song mirrors the chaos cooking a feast can create, a clever move from the singer. Despite many of these tracks relating to mythology and hard-to-read literature - you do not have to understand the deep meanings behind each song. They are all beautiful and moving in their own right.
Being the only collaboration on the album, the freshest sounding track is ‘Damage Gets Done’ featuring American folk rock singer Brandi Carlile. It is difficult in collabs to find someone who compliments the tone of your voice so effortlessly - this is not the case in ‘Damage Gets Done’. Both folk singers have a velvet quality to their voices which perfectly couples each other's stylings as they sing: “We knew what our love was worth” back and forth to each other. This song feels like a summer road trip - singing your heart out with the windows down - it embodies a summer feeling backed up with a baseline which carries the song into another dimension.
With an intro mirroring a gramophone crackling comes ‘Son of Nyx’ - the only instrumental song on Unreal Unearth. Similar to a haunting lullaby, the song brings a gothic feel to the record that can easily be pictured as a tour interlude as Hozier’s disjointed riffs echo in the background.
The lead single off the record ‘All Things End’ adds a soulful element to the intensely packed record in terms of literary references and genres - “When we begin again” becomes the tagline and focal point of the chorus. The soulful energy resonates throughout the song, especially when the gospel choir emerges for the final chorus - a highlight in the record. With countless religious undertones explicitly visible within Hozier’s discography, having a gospel choir serenade the listener is one of Hozier’s brightest ideas. Whether he is referring to life or love when he sings: “And all things end” this track truly takes the listener to a high plane.
Songs like ‘Butchered Tongue’ and ‘Anything But’ represent Hozier in his prime. The violent undertones of ‘Butchered Tongue’ provide an opportunity for the Irish-born folk star to sing in Gaelic once more whilst being accompanied by violins. Referring back to his last album, Wasteland Baby! ‘Anything But’ shares similarities with ‘Almost (Sweet Music)’ with the joyous and feel-good clapping and light-hearted energy as he sings “I wish I was the sunlight sitting on the Mississippi”.
‘Unknown Nth’, a song that was played unreleased at a couple of Hozier’s early album shows this year is the core of Unreal Unearth. With its catchy guitar riff intro and earnest lyrics, an ethereal yet emotive atmosphere is created when hearing this song - it is a tear-jerker. The gut-wrenching tone of Hozier is exemplified when he sings: “You know the distance never made a difference to me”- the theme of distance and being misunderstood is the core of this anthem. The emotion in this song is pure and raw - an unedited version of Hozier that so many of his fans yearn for. He does not hold back vocally or emotionally in this song.
Jammed with literary references and deep, meaningful passages of lyrics, Hozier pours his entire soul and being into this record - making explicit reference to both above and below-earth experiences. It is heavy in its content and meaning, but Unreal Unearth is an enjoyable listen for a Hozier fan with many career-defining moments on the record.
Amber Nielsen
★★★★☆