Unreal Unearth

by Hozier

Overview

A song cycle inspired equally by the COVID-19 pandemic and Dante's Inferno, Unreal Unearth confirms that underneath all of his outpouring of emotion and roots-music flair, Hozier yearns to be an art-rocker. He has ambition and a yen for atmosphere, emphasizing feel not only on the surface but in the rhythms, a combination that makes Unreal Unearth feel thick and murky even though it lacks neither hooks nor heart. It also doesn't skimp on eclecticism, winding its way from cloistered funk and plaintive ballads to soaring arena rock, slyly switching between widescreen and small-scale perspectives. Hozier provides a guide through the murk, accentuating his empathetic murmur with full-throated pleas. His singing provides a human connection, but Unreal Unearth often gets swallowed up by its own vibe. A bevy of producers, highlighted by Jennifer Decilveo (Bat for Lashes, Anne-Marie) and Daniel Tannenbaum (Kendrick Lamar), do admirable, evocative work, but the songs and feeling get lost under the layers of sound, particularly at the album's hour-long running time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/18/2023
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0196588162428
Rank:	1128

Tracks

1. De Selby, Pt. 1
2. De Selby, Pt. 2
3. First Time
4. Francesca
5. I, Carrion (Icarian)
6. Eat Your Young
7. Damage Gets Done
8. Who We Are
9. Son of Nyx
10. All Things End
11. To Someone From a Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe)
12. Butchered Tongue
13. Anything But
14. Abstract (Psychopomp)
15. Unknown/Nth
16. First Light

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hozier   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Mellotron
Brandi Carlile   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Jordan Seigel   Orchestra Leader,Orchestra
Ginny Luke   Violin
Daniel Tannenbaum   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Strings,Clapping,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
David Levita   Guitar
Charles Jones   Vocals (Background),Choir/Chorus
Lisa McCormick   French Horn
Stuart Johnson   Drums,Percussion,Synthesizer
Aretha Scruggs   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Toni Scruggs   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Alex Ryan   Bass,Organ,Piano,Wurlitzer,Vocals (Background),Bass,Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Vocals (Background)
Greg Fletcher   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Peter Gonzales   Oboe,Drums,Guitar,Melodica,Sampling,Mellotron,Percussion,Synthesizer,Drum Machine,Sound Effects,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Gitelman   Bass,Piano,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Daniel Krieger   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
David Simmonds   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Stanley Randolph   Drums
Budapest Festival Orchestra   Orchestra
Peter Illenyi   Conductor
Andrew Kwon   Violin
Fletcher Sheridan   Vocals,Choir/Chorus
Danielle Withers   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Nayanna Holley   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Alexander Forde   Viola
Whole Soul   Strings
Daniel Kreiger   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Daniel Lim   Cello
Haesol Lee   Violin
Craig Balmoris   Drum Machine
Jenn Decilveo   Piano,Synthesizer,Drum Machine
Sergiu Gherman   Clapping,Sampling,Keyboards,Drum Machine,Handclapping,Fender Rhodes
Andrew Hozier-Byrne   Guitar,Vocals,Melodica,Mellotron,Multi Instruments
Marius Fedor   Synthesizer
Ming Xiang   Pipa
Sora Castillo Rodriguez   Cello
Sora   Cello
Jennifer Decilveo   Piano,Synthesizer
Budapest Scoring Orchestra   Orchestra
Dominique Sanders   Bass,Double Bass,Bass (Upright)
Drew Forde   Viola
Sam Ks   Drums
Marius Feder   Clapping,Synthesizer,Handclapping
Kadeem Nichols   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Jordan Seigel   Orchestration,Recording Arranger,Orchestra Contractor,Arranger
Mark James   Design
Viktor Szabo   Engineer,Recording
Will Anspach   Engineer
Daniel Tannenbaum   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist
Andrew Scheps   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Stuart Johnson   Composer,Lyricist,Programming
Alex Ryan   Composer,Composer,Lyricist
Julia Johnson   Photography,Art Direction
Andrew Hozier-Byrne   Additional Production,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Art Direction,Vocal Engineer,Instrumentation
Peter Gonzales   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Programming,Tape Effects,Drum Programming,Recording Arranger,Synthesizer Arrangements
Steve Fallone   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jeff Gitelman   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Additional Production
Shawn Everett   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing,Programming,Mixing Engineer
Daniel Krieger   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Vocal Engineer
Pete G.   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer,Additional Production
Matt Anthony   Engineer
Budapest Festival Orchestra   Group Member
Peter Illenyi   Orchestra Contractor
Kieran Beardmore   Assistant Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
RJ Cardenas   Engineer
Adam Hong   Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Editorial Assistant
Chakra   Producer,Additional Production
Daniel Kreiger   Composer,Vocal Engineer
Greg Truitt   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Craig Balmoris   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Drum Samples,Drum Programming
Jenn Decilveo   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Sergiu Gherman   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Marius Fedor   Producer
Liam O'Dowd   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Sariah Mae   Producer,Additional Production
Denis Desmond   Management
Caroline Downey   Management
Jennifer Decilveo   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Budapest Scoring Orchestra   Group Member,Orchestra Contractor
Sean Cook   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Engineer,Additional Production
Logan Taylor   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bekon   Producer,Recording Arranger,Additional Production
Tyler Mehlenbacher   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Kieron Beardmorre   Mixing Assistant
Matt Wolach   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Marius Feder   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Additional Production
Nick Squillante   Engineer