Sometimes fondly referred to as “Forest Daddy” and “Bogfather,” the Irish musical genius and moonlight beekeeper Hozier recently released a four-track collection titled Unheard. The songs on the EP were written for but not included in Hozier’s 2023 album, Unreal Unearth.
“Too Sweet”:
After teased clips of this song amassed major traction across social media platforms, it is no surprise that “Too Sweet” was an immediate success. The covertly mournful song disguises itself well with an upbeat pop sound as Hozier describes the doomed nature of his love affair due to the incompatible lifestyles of himself and his lover. He identifies himself as a whiskey-drinking insomniac and his partner as someone who has their life together. While in previously released songs he describes the sweetness of a lover as a good thing, here Hozier makes sweetness into something synonymous with an innocence and lightness that he does not want. A loud base gives the song a sturdy structure and the typical chorus-verse-chorus pattern makes the tune catchy and easy to follow. My favorite part of the song is the ringing bells that hide behind the chorus. The sound initially threw me off – it added an ill-fitting joyous noise to comparatively somber lyrics. However, upon further research, I found that rather than wedding bells, the ringing could be death knells. According to tradition, a funeral bell will toll three times for the death of a man, the exact pattern that the bells of “Too Sweet” follow.
“Wildflower and Barley” (ft. Allison Russell):
Hozier wrote this piece during the COVID-19 pandemic as he was combating feelings of purposelessness and staticness. He sings, “I feel as useful as dirt, put my body to work.” Hozier upliftingly transforms these dark feelings into a song of renewal and rebirth, using dirt as an inspiring metaphor to depict the cycle of growth and new life. Over birdsong and a soft acoustic guitar, Hozier’s deep baritone perfectly complements Russell’s melodic harmonies.
“Empire Now”
Abandoning the levity of the previous two pieces, “Empire Now” matches somber lyricism with harsh strings, exciting crescendos, and a belted chorus. The song is palpably passionate- Hozier wrote it in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Ireland taking its first steps toward independence from the British Empire.
“Fare Well”
With an apt title, the EP’s final song cinches the collection with a song about risking everything for what brings you joy. He sings about feeling “a kitten-cozy-in-the-engine” and “a dog-deep-into-the-chocolate kind of wouldn’t fare well,” vowing to appreciate what temporary pleasure he is able to experience while he still can.
