Album Review: Harry Styles – Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
3 min read
Harry Styles needs no introduction at this point in his career, but a brief rundown can’t hurt. A member of infamous boyband One Direction, his time from X-Factor to now has been filled with million-selling albums, chart topping singles, and an all-to-brief stint as a Hollywood leading man. It’s been four years since his acclaimed third album Harry’s House, and after a well-earned break Harry has returned with the more electronic and wonderfully titled Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
Opener and initial single Aperture sets the mood for the album. Gentle, but pulsating, its slow building rhythm draws you in and feels like a stronger song sat amongst the record as a whole. Following song American Girls continues the chill aesthetic with watery piano chords and a strutting bass line. The chorus opens up, Harry letting his voice carry the tune. Ready, Steady, Go! and Are You Listening Yet? speed along on driving beats, the latter especially building up the instrumentation into a hypnotic noise. The Waiting Game provides an interesting middle ground between acoustic ballad and quick-paced electronica, Harry delivering a low-key performance, allowing the music to do its thing.
Season 2 Weight Loss begins with a synth and drum intro reminiscent of Sylvan Esso, developing into a melancholic, constantly evolving song that pushes along. It’s a captivating, if unusual track. Coming Up Roses then takes the album in a completely different direction. The fully orchestrated track has more in common with a waltz than it does with the rest of the album, but it’s no less captivating and enjoyable. The suitably titled Pop takes the sound back to the established sound, bouncing along with gritty bass and a tight, polished chorus. Dance No More is a brash funk tune, while Paint By Numbers strips it all back to acoustic and vocal, Beatles-esc ditty. Closer Clara’s Song manages to meld all the styles together for one last low-key groove driven pop song that ends the album with a gorgeous vocal refrain.
The promised dance record exists more in concept than execution. Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. is more hangover-coded; an electronic-tinged haze that is almost comforting. Whether this was the intent, the album is sleek, modern, and pushes the boundaries of Harry’s music to a new shimmering horizon. Some of the songs do come across as vapid – Ready, Steady, Go! for example – and other stick out like a sore thumb, but overall this record is a triumphant return for one of music best loved artists.
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
