Irish singer/songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s 2014 debut album was a fantastic compilation of blues songs laced with soul and folk, some of the enthralling deeper cuts were somewhat overshadowed by the success of hit singles 'Someone New' and 'Take Me To Church'. A year after Hozier was propelled to the A list, he has released a special edition of his self-titled debut. This was an album which I really didn’t think could get much better, but with the addition of some festival performances, a selection of bonus tracks, and a few live lounge covers, he’s managed to do just that. A very fun live performance of 'Jackie and Wilson' is added to the tracklisting, which opens with a hypnotising intro which you don’t get the pleasure of hearing on the studio version. Similarly, the live performance of 'Work Song' contains some luscious harmonies that make you feel like you’re right there in the crowd.
It’s Hozier’s ability to transform a song which really shines on this special edition. His covers begin with an expertly executed mashup of Ariana Grande’s 'Problem' and Warren G’s 'Regulate'. The covers proceed with a timeless classic which he makes his own; you wouldn’t think that Led Zeppelin’s 'Whole Lotta Love' would be up to scratch without the Robert Plant vocals and the Jimmy Page guitar work, but Hozier transforms it into a spellbinding acoustic masterclass. His most recent visit to the BBC Live Lounge was to cover Sam Smith’s heart-breaking ballad 'Lay Me Down', which is renovated into a fun soul track with a groovy bassline.
Hozier has managed to assert his maturity in the music world, and he’s ready to showcase exactly what he can do in years to come.