Six weeks, and a Lenten period on from Days Of Ash, U2 release six more new cuts on the Easter Lily EP.

FROM ASH TO EASTER

On reflection, when U2 released Days Of Ash on Ash Wednesday, it was the most U2 thing to do. Faith has always been a part of the U2 DNA: symbolically releasing an EP on such a day made sense. Now, the legendary Dublin quartet have done it again on Good Friday. Again, there are six more songs, and this time, it feels more introspective and reflective. Days Of Ash was a reaction to the tumultuous state of our fragile planet, and the hardships of those suffering the most. Easter Lily is a mite over thirty minutes and contains some very interesting songs that U2 fans will enjoy unpacking.

“We are in the studio, still working towards a noisy, messy, ‘unreasonably colourful’ album to play LIVE… which is where U2 lives. We still look to vivid rock n roll as an act of resistance against all this awfulness on our small screens. These are for sure ‘wilderness years’ for so many of us looking at the mayhem out there in the world.”

Bono on Easter Lily

PAYING TRIBUTE

Song For Hal features The Edge on lead vocals. The Edge has always been vocally prolific whether elevating songs with Bono or taking the lead himself a la Van Diemen’s Land or Numb. The song itself is a tribute to Hal Willner, who The Edge described as a close friend and a great music man. Willner sadly died in 2020 due to complications with COVID-19. His work touched many from Metallica to Nick Cave. This is a beautiful tribute that has all the musical hallmarks of the U2 sound; the chiming guitar of The Edge lead with emotional tone with emphasis placed on the lyric. The Edge is a great singer with a superb range; to hear him take the lead is a treat and when he sings, ‘Where music is heard, you’ll be there,’ you can reach out and touch the emotion.

IN A LIFE

Bono steps up to the mic on In A Life; a song of friendship. Lyrically, the song feels like it could have had it’s place on Songs Of Experience, such is its biographical slant. Bono has talked of going to London as a young band and fighting for a record deal; references to the Circle Line and meeting your mates with travel fares hark back to the grind that bands put in in a different time. Again, each song comes with it’s own visualiser/lyric video. In A Life features a pictorial trip down memory lane as the song soars; this one will definitely find itself in a live set when U2 eventually hit the road again.

Scars goes a little deeper and seeks redemption in imperfection. It is U2’s famed rhythm section that propel this one as Bono sings about accepting the trials and tribulations of life shown through scars. ‘It’s your scars that give you beauty’ sounds simplistic but oft times, the simple things say the most. Vocally, Bono sounds as good as ever; his range is still firmly there, and his delivery holds all the hallmarks he has made his own over the last five decades.

RESURRECTION SONG

It is the second half Easter Lily where U2 sonically stretch out a little more. Deep synths swirl as The Edge picks those shrill notes that have always rung through U2’s sound. When The Edge hits the guitar motif, it is hard not to smile with glee. Larry Mullen Jr. throws down a rolling marching drum beat and Bono sounds urgent on the vocal. Adam Clayton’s bass anchors the song to its bridge before it flourishes in full bloom. ‘Love is always somewhere at the back of the photograph’ sings Bono; there is hope aplenty in Resurrection Song, and by God we all need hope at the moment.

Easter Parade again has a synth led opening that builds to a pulse. The production feels very modern and again, the sense of bloom is there. New life is something that runs through the entirety of Easter Lily in some aspect. Adam lays down a Taxman like bassline (cue the naysayers with tired comments about paying tax etc) whilst the crescendo builds in beauty with Bono crying out ‘Kyrie eleison.’ This is another song that will sound humungous in the live arena.

COEXIST

It is on COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times?) where U2 flip the script sonically. Over a soft synth Brian Eno soundscape, Bono’s voice starts out naked with a snappy lyric that has infectious tempo. It seeks inspiration from Bon Iver rather than The Buzzcocks as the voice gets manipulated and layered. On Days Of Ash, U2 featured a poem, and this feels like its equal.

The title of the song tells you everything you need to know about the themes, but lyrically, the words are beautiful. For me, U2 have always been the most interesting when they dare to do something a little different and forward thinking. Whilst the production style is nothing new, they execute this one superbly. Rather aptly, COEXIST is hymnal, and is a song for children caught up in the worst of the worst in the world. It is a true standout moment of the EP, and proof that U2 still have the desire to let different musical styles in through the studio door. Whenever U2 and Brian Eno team up, the output is usually excellent. The partnership strikes again here.

‘It’s a time that has our band digging deeper into our lives to find a wellspring of songs to try meet the moment… With Easter Lily we ended up asking very personal questions like: Are our own relationships up to these challenging times? How hard do you fight for friendship? Can our faith survive the mangling of meaning that those algorithms love to reward? Is all religion rubbish and still ripping us apart…? Or are there answers to find in its crevices? Are there ceremonies, rituals, dances that we might be missing in our lives? From the rite of Spring to Easter and its promise of rebirth and renewal… Patti Smith’s album Easter gave me so much hope when it was released in 1978. I wasn’t yet 18. The title is a nod to her.

‘We will attempt hoopla and fanfare at a later date to remind the rest of the world we exist but in the meantime… this is between you and us.’

Bono on Easter Lily

PROPAGANDA

Again, this EP is accompanied by a digital edition of U2’s famed Propaganda magazine (here). It goes beyond the music and deep dives into the songs. As digital releases go, Days Of Ash and Easter Lily have been great. There is real emotional depth and thought in these songs and the way they have been presented. As a music collector, it would be nice to see affordable physical releases of these EP’s that aren’t limited to U2’s fan club subscription, as is the case for Days Of Ash EP.

This year, we have been given 12 new U2 songs; essentially an album. Could there be more EP’s on the way? According to the band, there is still an album to come in late 2026; one that will hopefully lead to U2 hitting the road again, and showing that they are still one of the biggest and best bands in the whole world, with their hearts and minds in the right place putting smiles on millions of faces.

U2: Website

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