Harry Styles album review: The funkiest existential crisis in pop After wrapping his Love On Tour shows in summer 2023, Harry Styles reflected on a career spanning nearly 13 years since the formation of One Direction in 2010. His solo journey began in 2017, marked by three albums released within five years, including Harry's House, which earned Grammy and Brit Award recognition. Speaking to The Times, Styles admitted he had been "on the go" for years, struggling to disconnect from the demands of his career. "I'd always thought I didn't need the dopamine hits of fame," he said, but realized he hadn’t truly stepped away. At 29, he retreated to Italy, embraced marathon running, and sought to "fall in love with music all over again," immersing himself in the experience of being a fan. This introspection influenced his new album, Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, which blends bass-heavy dance music with funky rhythms and skittering drums. Collaborations with Tom Skinner of Sons Of Kemet and nods to LCD Soundsystem, Tom Tom Club, Art of Noise, and Gang Of Four highlight its eclectic influences. Styles also referenced experimental Manchester act Durutti Column, surprising its frontman Vini Reilly, who admitted not recognizing him. The album’s sound is complex, with Styles’ vocals often drifting above the beats, creating a tension between his lyrical unease and the music’s groove. Lyrically, the album explores a state of emotional instability. Tracks like The Waiting Game and Coming Up Roses grapple with uncertainty in relationships, questioning love and connection. In Pop, Styles rejects the "squeaky clean fantasy" of his One Direction past, confronting darker desires and self-doubt.#tom_skinner #harry_styles #kiss_all_the_time_disco_occasionally #the_times #sons_of_kemet
