Hansard has long been the backbone of a music scene in the city which is part-venerated and part-ridiculed, depending on your perspective on hearts on sleeves and busking with Bono on Christmas Eve. However, there is no denying the Hansard man has done good; initially as part of The Frames and then The Swell Season, having his payday with Once. Now he returns with This Wild Willing, which sincerely should earn Hansard a worthy embrace from his fans and a fresh take from his detractors. Stunningly orchestrated and inventive at every twist, Hansard’s lyrics soar and swoop at every turn on tracks such as Fools Game and Race to the Bottom. If he brings every instrument recorded to the stage, it should make for quite the spectacle.
