Harry Styles’ highly anticipated fourth studio album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, has received mixed reviews ahead of its release on Friday, with the Telegraph saying it has “all the emotional heft of a perfume advert”.
The 32-year-old’s first record in four years, it features his latest single “Aperture”, which he recently showcased at the Brit Awards ceremony in Manchester.
The Telegraph, which awarded the album three out of five stars, said that the album is “strange, shallow and soon to be inescapable”.
The Guardian also gave it three stars, suggesting that the listening experience is “nice all the time, good, occasionally”.
Their review noted: “The music on Styles’ new album is muted, subtle and pleasant – but from the title downwards, he has a real problem with words.”
In contrast, the BBC offered a more enthusiastic assessment, hailing the album as “the funkiest existential crisis in pop” and drawing comparisons to artists like LCD Soundsystem, Tom Tom Club, and Gang Of Four.
The review praised Styles for occupying “an interesting space for a stadium-conquering pop star”, adding: “all credit to him for being brave enough to dwell in limbo for the duration of an entire record. As a portrait of an artist at a crossroads, it’s compellingly knotty.”
Metro was even more effusive, granting a full five out of five stars and declaring: “Brat summer’s reign is finally over, it’s time for Kissco spring.”
The publication said: “Each of the 12 tracks feels intentional in its inclusion, and while some songs are slower or softer against the disco mood, the album is consistent in quality.
“The joy he evidently found in his time away from the studio, visiting every European country he could and simply living his life, radiates from the album.”
The Independent’s Roisin O’Connor awarded Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally four out of five stars, describing the album as “personal, bold and finally sounding like himself”.
O’Connor’s review said: “It’s almost a relief to have Styles back, given how women in pop have been doing so much of the work in recent years, and really, he has no true male peer (artists such as Bad Bunny, Sam Fender and The Weeknd excel in their own lanes), as much as newcomers such as Benson Boone might try. No one can match his level of pizzazz.
“By stepping away for a minute, allowing any fears of getting left behind to cease, Styles has been able to return with newfound clarity and, more importantly, music that actually sounds like him. He let the light in, and it shows.”
To support the new release, Styles will embark on the ‘Together, Together’ tour, which includes an ambitious 12-night residency at Wembley Stadium – a run that could set a new record for the most performances by any artist at the national stadium in a single year.
The global tour kicks off in May, with dates scheduled across Amsterdam, New York, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Fans can also catch a one-off show at Manchester’s Co-Op Live this Friday, which will be available to stream on Netflix on Sunday.
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