Hozier - Wasteland, Baby!

The Guardian 60

(Rubyworks/Island)

The best song (No Plan) on Hozier’s second album proclaims: “There’s no plan, there’s no kingdom to come/ But I’ll be your man if you’ve got love to get done.” It’s a fair summary of the Irish singer-songwriter’s core message: everything’s a bit screwed, your faiths may be pointless, but you can rely on me and my endless, occasionally cliched sincerity.

Wasteland, Baby! follows the template of Hozier’s breakthrough single, Take Me to Church, by surrounding his fabulous cathedral of a voice with awed, gospelly choral backing, pulpit-rattling percussion, devilish, bluesy organ or guitar, and an always intelligent use of space in the production.

Pitchfork 48

The man who took us to church tries to take us to the same church, again, 14 times, six years later.