Everything I expected Harry Stylesfell into ruin with the release of the album “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally”. It’s an album that’s definitely not pop enough for the pop star it was long ago hailed as; not electronic enough, as expected from Styles’ visits to Berlin clubs and raves; too little guitar and instrumental for the comfortable work of the Briton to which he has accustomed his fans. However, the statement “too little” is the complete opposite of what is happening on the album. “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” is the quintessence of sonic splendor, experiment, joy of creation and curiosity about the musical world. This is something I would never accuse Styles of doing, but he was showing signs.
Even before the album’s premiere, Harry gave fans a foretaste, which – as it turned out – was the essence of the entire new material. It was the first single promoting the release “Aperture” and I think a better decision could not have been made. The choice was not obvious, risky, it fell on a song lasting over five minutes, so completely different from Styles’ previous work. It caused extreme emotions among fans, but I dare say that the risk paid off. A pop-electronic melody that makes you want to dance and have fun, exuding the joy of community and gratitude for what you have – this is the quintessence of an album so different from the previous ones, and at the same time so perfect.
The more obvious singles choice would be “American Girls”occupying position number two on the album’s tracklist. And although Harry didn’t take the easy way out the first time, he had already announced that this particular song would become the second single. Is this an error? Absolutely not. The song is one of the most pop songs on the album and it seems that the musician is giving a wink to the fans who have supported him from the very beginning. It sounds as if, instead of 32-year-old Styles, a 21-year-old with long hair stood at the microphone in the studio and sang the lyrics of “American Girls” right after the recording. “Perfect” and “Hey Angel” from the last album They Direction.
The song begins in a non-obvious way – with a delicate piano, but it hits straight to the heart. This motif reminded me of piercing sounds “Fine Line”which is one of the most beautiful songs in Harry’s discography. The beat that appears already in the first verse enhances the melodic character of the song, and after the chorus we already know that we should dance away all our sorrows.
The dance character of “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” is enhanced by songs such as: “Ready, Steady, Go!” Whether “Are You Listening Yet?”which, when I listened to the premiere, I wouldn’t match them to the British artist’s work. The former is dominated by bass and funky energy. The drums guide us through the next lines, the synthesizers introduce a disturbing atmosphere, and the electronic solo at the end adds another layer to the song. For the first time, Styles used strong voice-changing effects, i.e. a CB radio-style microphone, which I associate primarily with Daman Albarn With Gorillaz. The words repeated like a mantra at the end, shouted as if through an old radio, create a crazy atmosphere.
In “Are You Listening Yet?” Harry used melorecitation, which is also not obvious for his work. Another new thing, but a good one. The text is a manifesto – a call to talk to yourself and take action. “If you must join a movement, make sure there is dancing in it.” – the singer sings, and the dance melody only emphasizes the importance of his words. There is also a guitar solo that appears at the culmination of the song and pours honey into my heart. The melody hummed before the chorus gives you chills.
The album includes less electronic, more pop songs that may suit the tastes of fans who remember Styles’ older work best. “Taste Back” it’s a piece dominated by the rhythm of the drums. At the same time, it is comfortable and less experimental, which is why it does not stand out from the rest. Despite this, the album really needs it – as a kind of stop. Lyrically, it is the definition of grief and anger that come when people and stories from the past reappear in our lives. The bittersweet words are a very strong point of the song.
“The Waiting Game” this is probably the only weaker point of the album. The song drags on relentlessly and gives the impression that it is a demo version rather than a finished song. It is dominated by an irritating sound, and although the melody – slightly slower, falling into a ballad rhythm – fits the style of the rest of the album, it should rather be placed in the “outtakes” section.
The bad taste doesn’t stay with us for long, because right after the weakest song on “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” we get an absolute masterpiece that can easily be added to the top of Styles’ best compositions. The applause is especially due Kid Harpoonwho is the manufacturer “Season 2 Weight Loss”. The song is a production masterpiece. There are so many layers and ideas to it that they could easily serve as themes for at least ten other separate songs. The sound spreads in an exciting way in the panorama and surrounds you on all sides. Several voices from the choirs are heard in the chorus. Synthesizers, combined with drums, create the quintessence of frustration that vents itself in the lyrics. Harry sings about loneliness, expectations and doubts. He ends the song with a delicate “You could be here, in my arms. You just want a piece or nothing at all,” leaving me with nostalgia all over my body and a quivering heart.
Harry also took care of the ballads, and this is the first one “Coming Up Roses”in which he surprised with an extensive string section, at first glance so incongruous with the new album. There is no electronics here – but there is honesty, which fits the atmosphere of the album. The violin shows off at the end of the song, but does not create a solemn atmosphere. The melody is cheerful and gives hope. It perfectly complements the intimate and vulnerable image of Harry captured in the text.
Right after the moving composition comes one of the bravest songs on the album – “Pop”. It’s impossible not to call it an equivalent “Cinema” With “Harry’s House”. Explosive choruses and loud synthesizers introduce a euphoric atmosphere and drive the rhythm so much that you almost have to dance. It’s a culmination of retro disco and funk, highlighted by keyboard solos. It’s similar with “Dance No More”which sounds like a recording from the 1970s. The sounds of a happy crowd in the background and the DJ’s motif appearing in the lyrics make it seem as if it was a song that dominated discos a few decades ago. The melody sways a little more, it makes you dance less crazy, but there is some unique energy in it. “Respect your mother” – Harry Styles shouts at the end, and you already know that this text will not come out of your head for the next few days.
The second ballad that Styles included on “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” is a touching “Paint By Numbers”. A composition that suddenly, completely unexpectedly, pulls you off the dance floor and leaves you with reflection and tears involuntarily flowing down your cheeks. The text talks about the pressure and hardship associated with the life of a celebrity. There are several references to Liam and although the singer never sings directly about his departure, he left me with the impression that this song was just for him. Although sadness reigns here, the melody is cheerful again. Based on an acoustic guitar, very raw, and at the same time making you smile through your tears.
The album closes “Carla’s Song”leaving me wondering how something can be so fresh and so out of date at the same time. It’s a beautiful composition, dedicated to Styles’ friend who inspired him when she found great joy in discovering new things. Thanks to her, the singer felt again why he wanted to pursue music at the beginning of his career. It is so different from the disco hits that the publication is filled with, and at the same time so necessary. It is a symbolic piece in whose sounds I found images of a sunny spring day; lens flare that was created in a photo taken against the light; fresh flowers placed in a vase and a friend’s sincere laughter.
“Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” is a collection of modern, fresh ideas, hidden under the guise of inspiration from the 70s and 80s. Although it seems that electronics, house and dance beats rule here, when we listen deeper, we can still detect the artist’s fascination with live instruments, guitar riffs, rumbling drums and fat bass. Some sounds (rightly) suggest that Styles visited iconic clubs in Berlin and listened to completely different music than what he had ever heard before. Others show that he remains faithful to his roots and inspirations from years ago. The lyrics seem abstract – nothing is said directly, and the message becomes universal. Despite this, in each of the songs you can feel that Harry put a lot of heart into them, a part of himself and his intimacy. It talks about the joy derived from a sense of community, the need for love, and at the same time about the sadness and doubts that come from loneliness.
This album is consistent with what the artist has accustomed us to, and at the same time surprising. Even after repeated listening, it is still impossible to detect all the treatments, sounds and effects that Styles decided to use. Multi-layeredness is one of the most important features of the publishing house. It seems as if none of the songs fit together, but at the same time they form a perfectly selected whole. The material gives the impression that the musician spent not a few years but several decades working on it. It was as if there were not just a few, but several hundred people playing in his band. As if the ideas came not only from him, but from a whole team of experienced artists, filled with love for music.
The singer stubbornly emphasized in his announcements that he intended to release a disco album to fans. The listeners interpreted it in their own way, expecting strictly club rhythms, created “on one hoof”, without any major musical displays. I myself was deceived and with a heavy heart I waited for songs with a uniform rhythm that would lack organic sounds. Ultimately, I set the bar so low that it would be really easy to jump over it. However, Harry did it in a spectacular way, serving up an album that aroused my excitement, curiosity and showed a completely new face of the musician whose work I have known so well for years.
Harry Styles, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally”Erskine Records Limited and Columbia Records – 10/10