Hozier’s latest EP, “Unheard,” rescues four unreleased songs from the pandemic-inspired “Unreal Unearth” album he dropped in 2023. Hozier was productive during the pandemic; while isolated and locked in his home, he found peace in writing music. This left him with a lot of music—too much for the original album. 

He released his third album during the pandemic, but “Unheard” highlights four songs that did not make the cut. This EP embarks on the same musical journey as the original album, giving the four songs time to shine. 

The EP starts with “Too Sweet,” which was considered to be in the original album and has a ticking rhythm and gnarled baseline.

“Empire Now” is the next song, which is a funk song that pairs a sighing slide guitar with a grinding digital beat. This song taps into the busy “Fare Well,” which is an uplifting folk-pop song.

“Wildflower and Barley,” the gliding and swooping soul duet, is the centerpiece of this album, featuring Allison Russell, the Grammy-winning folk artist. 

The “Unheard” EP captures everything Hozier is known for. This EP shows his effortless ability to create emotional yet upbeat songs. The signature song on the EP is “Too Sweet” because it shows Hozier’s ability to write emotional songs with amazing lyrics. While the song is emotional, it’s upbeat and doesn’t make you sad.

The chorus of this song goes, “I think I’ll take my whiskey neat / My coffee black and my bed at three / You’re too sweet for me / You’re too sweet for me.” 

According to a Rolling Stone article, an audio clip of this chorus was used in more than 38,500 posts on the viral video app in March.

My favorite song on the EP is “Wildflower and Barley” because Allison Russell adds an angelic voice in the background of the chorus that draws the audience into the song. I think “Too Sweet” and “Wildflower and Barley” will be massive hits this summer because they bring great vibes perfect for the summertime!

Rating: 9/10