★★★★★

After four long years, Harry Styles is back! After subtly teasing his return to music over the last three months, Styles’ fourth album ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, is the light this world needs. Full of funky, techno beats and angelic vocals from London-based group House Gospel Choir - ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally’, was worth the wait. 

Nicknamed 'HS4’ and ‘KISSCO’ by the fans, the record spans 12 tracks, kicking off with lead single ‘Aperture’, it carries that same disco-funk vibe throughout on tracks such as ‘Pop’ and ‘Dance No More’. While songs like ‘American Girls’ and ‘Paint By Number’ have a more melancholy tone. This album as a whole steers away from Style’s synth-pop, metronomic feel of his third studio album, ‘Harrys House’. A special thing about Styles' songwriting is the ability he has to tell stories through his music. Even though he disguises the emotional lyrics with upbeat, pop beats, it allows the listeners to interpret the lyrics how they please. 

Lead single ‘Aperture’ kicks off the album as it means to go on. With a minimalistic electronic pulse, the track builds gradually, layering electronic textures, gentle guitar and slurred vocals - it’s an ideal song for shouting in a stadium this summer. A hidden highlight is the extraordinary backing vocals from the Gospel House Choir and Wolf Alice's lead singer, Ellie Rowsell. Throughout the album, we are treated to vocals from the Gospel House Choir on tracks like ‘Are You Listening Yet?’, ‘Pop’, and ‘Dance No More’. It also features continued collaborations with Rowsell on ‘Season 2 Weight Loss’ and ‘Taste Back’. 

‘Pop’ and ‘Dance No More’ are two standout tracks. Full of deep bass and electronic synths, 'Pop' feels similar to one of Style’s unreleased songs, Medicine’. Lyrically, ‘Pop’ is about being with someone you shouldn't be with, even though it feels good in the moment. ‘Dance No More’ keeps that funky sound, yet its lyrics reflect a deeper meaning than the sound gives off. He sings, “And that there's no different feeling between the tears and the sweat”, which relates to when Style's was in a club in Berlin. Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music podcasts about this, Styles described a moment of standing in the middle of the dance floor, and feeling so unbelievably free and safe. I kind of had just my hands in the air, and my eyes closed, and I just felt these tears streaming down my face. And it was this moment of, like, ‘I’m so alive right now’. ‘Dance No More’ is almost a reflection of how singers and performers want to feel what the audience feels when we listen to their music. 

Rounding off the album is a track called ‘Carla’s Song’. Musically, it's similar to the lead track ‘Aperture’ in the sense that it builds as it goes on, creating this cyclical structure to the album. Lyrically, the song is about seeing the beauty in life once you get out there and discover everything. It's a positive message for the world in a time of worry and uncertainty. 

Overall, ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally’ is an incredible album. It's so beautiful to see Styles steer away from his usual sound and try something new. The use of synths, electric/bass guitar and the use of vocals from Rowsell and the House Gospel Choir elevate this album, making it a wonderful listen from start to finish. These next few months are going to be big for Harry Styles with One Night Only in Manchester's CO-OP Live Arena, The Together Together Tour and endless appearances on TV and radio. It’s safe to say ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally’ is the new era of Harry Styles, and it's here to stay.