Harry Styles lets the music — and the joy — take over Harry Styles’ new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, feels like a vibrant, unpredictable event. Following his Grammy-winning Harry’s House, this latest release is an experimental pop journey that blends homage, electronica, and a sense of wild celebration. The album, co-produced by Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, is designed for the earbud era, offering a rich tapestry of sounds—from fleeting guitar riffs to pulsating synthesizers—that invites listeners to immerse themselves in its sonic world. Styles, who recorded the album in Berlin, has drawn comparisons to David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy (Low, Heroes, Lodger). The city’s influence is evident in the album’s avant-garde approach, with Styles embracing bold, unconventional choices. Yet, he credits the “joyous” energy of LCD Soundsystem as a key inspiration, infusing the project with a sense of exuberance and humor. This spirit permeates tracks like the lead single Aperture, which features a hypnotic synthesizer and subdued vocals, and Coming Up Roses, an orchestral ballad that layers strings into a sweeping, emotional crescendo. The album’s lyrics balance wit with philosophical reflection, addressing modern anxieties while encouraging a return to simplicity. In Season 2 Weight Loss, Styles critiques ego-driven obsessions, suggesting that the world’s chaos often stems from overanalysis. “It’s kind of sad,” he sings, “but there’s something I know / Too many things for you to analyze.” The solution, he implies, is to let light in—both literally and metaphorically. Songs like Paint by Numbers pause the album’s disco-driven rhythm to celebrate mundane pleasures, such as spending time outdoors or enjoying music.#kid_harpoon #harry_styles #tyler_johnson #berlin #lcd_soundsystem
Harry Styles album review: The funkiest existential crisis in pop After wrapping his Love On Tour shows in summer 2023, Harry Styles had spent 22 months on the road—or was it 13 years? The singer, who had been active since One Direction’s formation in 2010, launched his solo career in 2017 with three albums in five years. His latest work, Harry’s House, earned album of the year accolades at both the Grammys and the Brit Awards. Now, on the verge of turning 30, Styles took a step back, reflecting on his career and personal life. In a recent interview with The Times, he admitted, “It was time for me to stop for a bit and pay some attention to other parts of my life.” He acknowledged the addictive nature of his profession, stating, “I’d always thought, or hoped, that I was the kind of person who didn’t need the dopamine hits that doing this job often gives you. But I hadn’t actually removed myself from it, and it’s hard to eliminate the doubt that maybe if it all went away, I’d really miss it.” During this period of recalibration, Styles retreated to Italy and took up marathon running. He described the experience as a way to “fall in love with music all over again,” embracing the perspective of a fan. Inspired by LCD Soundsystem’s immersive live performances, he sought to channel that joy into his art. “The inspiration from them came of, ‘Oh, that’s how I want to feel when I’m on stage,’” he told BBC Radio 1’s Greg James. His new album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, reflects this introspection. While the title suggests a playful approach, the album leans into bass-heavy dance music with funky syncopation and skittering drums, often produced by Tom Skinner of Sons Of Kemet.#tom_skinner #harry_styles #lcd_soundsystem #the_times #tom_tom_club
