Finally! Hozier, the handsome Irishman is back with a new EP, Nina Cried Power, which has just been released. An excellent teasing to make us wait before the release of his second album.
You can't imagine our joy when we saw Hozier's new EP appear on Spotify! We discovered him for the first time during his visit to the Nouveau Casino in 2014 and he left us with an unforgettable memory. His first album had been acclaimed by critics and we had followed him in these promising beginnings… and which are confirmed!
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Nina Cried Power
The EP starts strong with Nina Cried Power, the title of the EP, which is a huge tribute to the soul of the 60's and women like Nina Simone or Billie Holiday.
Here, Mavis Staples poses her voice in duet with the beautiful Irish. A very groovy rhythm, simple verses with a bass that adorns the background and choruses that rise in power; the choirs give this gospel side that we love so much to Hozier's music. We love this super gripping title, which makes you want to jump out of your seat and move.
NFWNB – Understanding Nothing Fucks With My Baby – is slower; it reminds a little It Will Come Back of the first album, from the intro.
Composed on the same pattern, but perhaps more melancholic, NFWNB is less bluesy in the voice, more pop, sung softly, without much effect.
A second voice harmonizes this dark sad melody. The more the piece unfolds, the more the guitar and piano obscure the picture that ends in suspense. Very good!
Moment's Silence is a return to pure Blues with this jumping track, on a snapping rhythm. This time, we turn very quickly on oldies rock well felt, again amplified by choirs. It is very quickly enjoyable. Small guitar strumming that increases the pressure, strong chorus, breaks and surprising covers. A great composition!
Shrike is a ballad reminiscent of Cherry Wine from the first album. We disapprove of his tender voice and his storyteller qualities. He raises a few notes in the treble to make us shiver.
It's sensitive and moving. The piano gives depth and the rhythm in the background comes to animate the song without accelerating it. We're almost on a waltz. The violin adds an Irish lyrical touch, already suggested by the small guitar notes.
Our feeling at the end of the discovery of this EP is that we hold a little gem and that we did well to wait so long for the return of Hozier. His EP is even better than his first album and suggests that good for the future… which should arrive in early 2019 with a second album. We can't wait!
No dates yet for Europe, but it will be September 18 in Montreal for our lucky cousins…
