![]() ![]() Hozier compares himself to the shrike, and his lost love to the thorn. “Shrike” takes its name from a bird known for impaling its prey on sharp spikes. The final track, “Shrike,” is reminiscent of “From Eden”: both songs begin with similar twangy strings, and feature heartbroken lyrics that border on disturbing. The song opens with a funky guitar riff and snaps, leading into a cheeky lyrical twist: Hozier sings, “A moment’s silence when my baby puts her mouth on / Me and my babe relaxin’, catching manic rhapsody.” Throughout the track, he criticizes conservative leaders who condemn physical pleasure, instead referring to love as “the common tongue of your lovin’ me.” The lyrics are syntactically complex, contrasted by the unpretentious percussion and bluesy guitar. It falls in the same category as his quintuple-platinum single “Take Me to Church,” using religious imagery to discuss physical intimacy. “Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue)” is the second of Hozier’s sexual spirituals. The song comes to a slow close, fading out on a humming string. The instrumentation drops out almost entirely on the title line: “Nothing f**ks with my baby,” Hozier sings, making profanity sound debonair. The melody leads the charge, with far-away percussion and deep synth providing subtle texture. The vocals are mixed in the left and right channels, creating an all-encompassing sound that immerses the listener. Unlike his high-energy blues rock, “NFWMB” features Hozier’s falsetto, contrasted by rich, deep piano. The second track, “NFWMB,” opens with a chord progression reminiscent of “Someone New.” From there, it takes a very different tack. The result is a complex, powerful anthem that wouldn’t be out of place in a church service. With passionate vocal fry and a sarcastic laugh, Staples sings, “Power has been cried by those stronger than me / Straight into the face that tells you to rattle your chains / If you love bein’ free.” Cello and bass underscore the lyrics, while an ethereal choir provides vocal accompaniment. ![]() Hozier and Staples name-drop stars from Nina Simone to John Lennon, borrowing Simone’s “Sinnerman” lyrics as they laud their subjects for “crying power.” Hozier, famous for his powerful vocals, yields the spotlight to Staples in the bridge. The title track features legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples, and pays homage to social justice icons from the past century. Nina Cried Power makes its presence known from the outset. ![]() The EP might only be seventeen minutes long, but it includes everything that made Hozier a superstar. It’s his first new music since 2016’s “Better Love,” and a precursor to his next album, to be released in early 2019. The Irish singer-songwriter released Nina Cried Power, a four-song EP, on September 6. ALBUM REVIEW: Hozier - Nina Cried Power EP ![]()
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