Harry Styles – ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.’: Album Review

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Throughout the album, Harry Styles attempts to hide from his celebrity persona in the music, as well as the real world.

As an artist, Harry Styles is an enigma.

After One Direction announced an indefinite hiatus, Styles subverted his boyband image to take the industry by storm with his multiple award winning solo albums.

Not an artist to stay in one lane, Harry Styles has experimented with many genres, from pop-rock to funk and new wave.

On ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally’, he explores elements of disco and electronica, self described as heavily inspired by artists including LCD Soundsystem.

In 2023, he found himself looking to pause and reflect. During an extended break to Berlin, after discovering a newfound sense of freedom, he reconnected with his passion for music.

Alongside long-term collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, Harry Styles recorded the album at Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios.

Album opener Aperture begins with a slow building, pulsing electronic beat. Lyrically, it’s inherently vague: ‘It’s best you know, what you don’t’.

While the term aperture is used in photography to define an opening through which light passes, this can be reminiscent of Styles finding freedom in new experiences.

The chorus is a joyful and uplifting cry of, ‘we belong together’, accompanied by guest vocalists Ellie Rowsell and the London House Gospel Choir.

On Are You Listening Yet? a funky bass rhythm is paired with spoken word to demonstrate the existential crisis of an unfulfilled life.

It’s catchy and intriguing, especially the ongoing chorus which leads to the song’s outro. Harry Styles’ layered vocals during the chorus are reminiscent of funky Afrobeat groups which really brings the song to life.

Season 2 Weight Loss, an oddly titled track that matches the album’s unpredictable theme, is a hidden gem nestled halfway through.

Again there’s references to letting in the light, echoing this idea of moving into a new era. The underlying synth throughout works well, as does the the distant vocals of Rowsell contrasted with the clarity of Styles.

Album closer Carla’s Song pays homage to friend as well as singer-songwriter Paul Simon. From the layered harmonies to the opening verse (‘There is a bridge that leads to troubled waters’), Simon’s artistry is subtly found throughout the track.

Simon, known for his experimental approach of fusing genres with world cultures, may seem like an odd choice given the album’s electronic influence, yet Harry Styles somehow manages to pull it off.

Despite being a talented singer, the vocals take a back seat to let the electronic production shine. While this choice makes sense stylistically, it could be enhanced with him at the forefront rather than hiding behind the production.

Throughout the album, there’s an attempt to hide from his celebrity persona in the music, as well as the real world.

As a global megastar it may be hard to distinguish yourself from the on stage persona, yet what makes a song recognisable as a Harry Styles track is thus somewhat disconnected from the album.

Ultimately it seems like Harry Styles wasn’t looking to create a hit album; instead he focused on finding happiness in freedom and invited us along to the party.

While there’s credit for experimentation, ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.’ sonically isn’t as strong as his previous efforts, but it does signify a new chapter in his artistic evolution.

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