After four years away, Harry Styles returns with Aperture, the first taste of his forthcoming album ‘Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally’. The track signals a clear but welcome shift in sound.
Aperture serves as a measured introduction to a more electronic direction rather than a fully fledged disco assault . The production is restrained and gives more of an after party feel, favouring subtly over obvious dancefloor heaviness. Styles has spoken about the influence of time spent in Berlin and the people he met there, and that influence is audible in the track’s cool, after hours atmosphere. There is a definite Hot Chip energy running through Aperture, not in imitation but in spirit, particularly in its blend of warmth and detachment.
At over five minutes long, the song unfolds slowly, allowing its ideas space to breathe and kicks up the tempo in its final part. It is a slow burner, but one that remains engaging throughout, never tipping into overindulgence or excess. Lyrically, Styles leans into optimism. He sings about embracing and letting in light and love, echoing the idea of opening himself up to new experiences and connections
As a preview of what is to come, Aperture is an intriguing statement. It marks a departure from the sound that carried Styles through his previous albums, and while that shift may draw in listeners who were previously unconvinced, it may also unsettle those who favoured a more organic, instrument led approach. Either way, Aperture suggests an artist comfortable with change and embracing it in the next phase of his career.
4/5
