Tony Clayton-Lea: On-form Hozier pulling new rabbits from magician’s hat in latest album Unreal Earth
Confident musician collaborates with other artists on his new album but there are no signs that you’re listening to anything other than Hozier
Hozier, Unreal Unearth (Rubyworks/Island Records)
It isn’t that Andrew Hozier-Byrne had anything to prove (except to himself, of course), but with his third album he pulls more rabbits out of the magician’s hat than you would reasonably expect. Firstly, there are 16 tracks – with some albums, any more than 12 could be a trial to wade through, but that isn’t the case here. Secondly, this is his first album on which he collaborates with other writers – yet on songs credited to six or seven people (De Selby, Part 2, Damage Gets Done), there are no signs that you’re listening to anything other than Hozier.
