Few can ask for a better musical debut than Hozier, who instantly shot to fame with the anthemic single ‘Take Me to Church’. Many worried that he would have a tough act to follow, but the title track of his sophomore release ‘Nina Cried Power’ suggests otherwise.
A steady drumbeat suggests a march of sorts as the haunting vocals of Hozier lay the song’s message out clearly. This is not just about becoming aware of socio-political problems but addressing them head-on (“It’s not the waking it’s the rising”). Hozier and guest vocalist, legendary soul singer, Mavis Staples, launch into a soul inspired chorus that will elicit goosebumps with a choir echoing ‘power’. For Hozier, this song is a ray of hope to the downtrodden. Influential activists in music history, such as Patti Smith (“Patti cried power”) and Staples, herself, along with Nina Simone, whose voice is sampled throughout the chorus.
The next track, ‘NFWMB’, brings us into a dark world of Hozier’s creation. An apocalypse is coming and Hozier will stop at nothing for the one he loves. Religious overtones are omnipresent throughout, while W.B. Yeats’ ‘The Second Coming’ is referenced. ‘NFWMB’ may grant the listener a reprieve following the energy of the opening track but it is no less evocative.
Hozier’s more than capable skills as a guitarist are evidenced by ‘Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue)’, the penultimate track of this EP. A blues-inspired riff kicks off the song and brings a renewed energy. This is one of the few songs of Hozier’s which would not be out of place on any dancefloor. Those that appreciate the opening track will be swept off of their feet by this one; it will surely become a live staple for the artist.
The final track, ‘Shrike’, sees Hozier’s lament of not appreciating a relationship with a significant other until they are gone. A shrike is a small predatory bird that impales its prey on sharp objects such as thorns or branches; Hozier compares himself to the bird, while his former lover is the thorn.
Hozier had a tough act to follow after his debut effort made it to the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 200, but his latest release is by no means a disappointment. Clocking in at just 17 minutes, the only disappointment that comes with ‘Nina Cried Power’ is that it doesn’t have a longer run-time. Those attending his gigs in The Olympia Theatre in December should give hear it.
