Listen to Hozier’s surprise ‘Unheard EP’ of new songs

nme.com:

Hozier has dropped a surprise ‘Unheard EP’, comprised of previously unreleased songs. Check them out below.The Irish singer-songwriter first began hinting at the prospect of new material on social media earlier this month – teasing fans by sharing a video of a notebook.Now, a week after revealing that there was a new release on the way, Hozier has dropped the ‘Unheard EP’, which features four previously unreleased songs, all of which were recorded during the sessions for his latest album ‘Unreal Unearth’.These include ‘Too Sweet’, ‘Empire Now’, ‘Fare Well’, and a final track titled ‘Wildflower and Barley’, which features the Canadian Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist, Allison Russell.“It’s my pleasure to announce the release of more work from the album sessions which could not make the original release,” Hozier said of the new release. “These are songs that might’ve made it to the circles of gluttony, limbo, violence and the outward ‘ascent’ respectively but could not for different reasons.

I’m very glad I’ll get to share them with you.”Check out the full EP below.The EP shared today (March 22) marks the first body of music shared by Hozier since he released his third album ‘Unreal Unearth’ last August – an LP which saw him secure his first-ever UK Number One.“Hozier not only navigates different genres on ‘Unreal Unearth,’ but chooses between moments of sparseness, like the minimalist ‘To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuarithe)’ while also making space for expansive tracks,” NME wrote of the album in a four-star review.“Hozier’s vocal abilities are on full display across ‘Unreal Unearth,’ but much like the album’s instrumentals, it’s his understanding of when to give more understated performances,.