Hozier- Nina Cried Power EP review

https://www.redbrick.me/ep-review-hozier-nina-cried-power/

Album review: Hozier- Nina Cried Power

A cry for change: Hozier’s long-awaited EP is a soulful testimony of freedom

It’s been 4 years since Hozier’s debut album received critical acclaim, with his best-selling hit ‘Take Me To Church’ leading a protest against oppression. Since then, the Irish musician has become somewhat of a “recluse” within the music industry- with the exception of the odd single. At last, us fans are treated to an entire 4-song EP, with just as much soul, emotion and political significance as you would expect from so profound an artist.

The EP kicks off with its namesake: a powerful, haunting track featuring vocals from iconic R & B artist Mavis Staples, and a prominent gospel backing. When the chorus hits, repeated cries of ‘power’ resonate, which are often fragmented and desperate. This corresponds to the political motive of ‘Nina Cried Power’, as a despairing but strong-willed plea for civil rights:

‘Power has been cried by those stronger than me/ Straight into the face that tells you / To rattle your chains if you love being free’

In a sense, the track is a celebration of freedom, yet also an acknowledgement that many are still kept in ‘chains’ by racial and sexual discrimination. Building up towards the end, the vocalists start referencing big names in music who have famously fought for human rights, such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and of course- the eponymous Nina Simone. This creates a collective body of voices, both on and off-track, who are generating ‘Power’ on behalf of the people.

Transitioning into the second track, ‘NFWMB’ reveals a more sensual element to the artist’s work than previously explored. A rhythmic guitar motif carries the main melody, with heavier chords adding a more dramatic undertone. This combines with slow, breathless vocals to create a love song that falls precariously between intimate and possessive.

Phrasing such as ‘ain’t you my baby?’ and the repeated use of the word ‘nothing’, give the sense of a man who admires his lover, yet also in a sense, commands her. This proprietorial style is something that features in Hozier’s previous track ‘It Will Come Back’, yet in this case, the sense of possession is more subtle, and thus all the more haunting.

Following on from this, ‘Moment’s Silence’ takes us into the realm of classic Hozier craftsmanship, with a moody electric guitar melody and lively tempo. The music cleverly slows down during certain moments to build tension, linking to the track’s title of the eerie “moment of silence”, before the guitar and vocals set back in. And of course, no Hozier track would be complete without a melodramatic undertone of some kind, and this song achieves that through Biblical undertones within the lyrics.

Phrases such as ‘swollen Lord’, and ‘a silent night upon the rosary’ are used in conjunction with more sensual references, such as the repeat of ‘my baby puts her mouth on me’, drawing up an interesting juxtaposition between prudence and intimacy. Towards the end of the song, listeners are treated to some of Hozier’s iconic vocal phrasing, jumping up to high notes with ease. Whilst this song is in no sense extra-ordinary for a Hozier fan, it’s a key example of the artist doing what he does best, and fans will love it as a result.

Lastly, the final track on the EP holds its place as my favourite of this selection, and perhaps, of Hozier’s music in general. It features a similar style to the beautiful ‘Cherry Wine’, but goes further, with a more complex theme and developed melody. Like its former counterpart, ‘Shrike’ also begins with a soothing acoustic line, followed by soft vocals. Yet, the texture quickly builds up, with the addition of heavier chords, and vocals that gradually become louder and more passionate. Around half-way through, backing strings add to the mood of the track, echoing a tragic element that is prominent within the actual lyrics:

‘Remember me love / When I’m reborn / As a shrike to your sharp and glorious thorn’

With the word ‘Shrike’ defining as a songbird that preys upon insects that live on thorns, a complex theme of love and loss is created. The speaker seeks a love that consistently hurts him, yet he continues to return to this ‘glorious’ source. But even without taking such an in-depth analysis of the content, the mood of the track is conveyed through its rich texture. I never thought that any track would be capable of out-shining the masterpiece that is ‘Cherry Wine’, but it appears I stand corrected.

As a whole, the EP takes listeners on a journey, through freedom, possession, exploration and finally, into suffering. I think what links all the tracks together is the sense of a power struggle, whether this be a fight for liberation in the case of ‘Nina Cried Power’, or the desperation to keep and hold a lover that is evident in ‘Shrike.’

 In criticism, I might add that the use of such a strong track to start off with perhaps overshadows the remainder of the EP and introduces a political debate that is not followed through within the later tracks. With that being said, Hozier was keen to alert his fans that this release serves simply as a ‘foretaste’ of his upcoming second album, and therefore can be thought of as somewhat experimental. In that light, the EP is a beautiful, insightful, and long overdue collection of some of Hozier’s greatest work yet.

Rating- 4/5