Constantly up against a seemingly endless yet wonderful barrage of music submissions; the life of a music writer can sometimes become stagnated. With so much talent out there who all fall into similar categories, we find ourselves exasperatedly racking our brains trying to find new ways to do justice to an old sound we have heard many times before. Then, someone unassuming like Irish multi-instrumentalist Andrew Hozier-Byrner (Hozier) will reach our inbox, revealing themselves as an immediate game changer, and a reason to get excited. The words begin to flow again.
Recorded and co-produced with Rob Kirwan (PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode) in his attic at home and mixed by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals) 'From Eden' is Hozier's second EP, made up of four remarkably omnipotent blues-infused tracks. The EP opens with the title-track, its lazy shuffling rhythm and blues provides a solemn backdrop to Hozier's rasping gospel vocals that both lull and alert in a very unique way. 'Work Song' follows with an intro of hums and reverb-sodden handclaps. Slower and smoother the track is introspective and honest.
'Arsonist's Fire', is a dark & ominious bluesy rock track with growling death march backing. Lastly, the EP wraps up with a live version of 'To Be Alone', an intense and sparse angry blues track driven by Hozier's almighty vocals. What we are hearing here is a 21st century take on blues, leaving us unable to make any viable contemporary comparisons within the current music scene. Hozier is the captain and the crew of his own ship, sailing steadily towards his very own promised land. His Garden of Eden, where we are all invited to join him.
'From Eden' EP is available now on Rubyworks. You can also catch Hozier live at Longitude Festival in Dublin in July and at the Reading and Leeds Festival in August.
