Rating: 7/10
After almost four years of silence since his last album, “Harry’s House,” released in 2022, Harry Styles returns to the spotlight with his new single, “Aperture.” Serving as the first song in his upcoming album “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally,” it sets the tone for what to expect in the following tracks.
The title itself, “Aperture,” refers to the camera function that uses light to create an adjustable depth of field in photos. He notes this function in the pre-chorus where he states, “It’s best you know what you don’t/ Aperture lets the light in.”
Genius promotional merchandise, which sold out the same day it was released, also references the track by including a 35mm film camera along with a t-shirt and camera bag, giving the fans the true aperture experience.
Produced by long-time collaborator Kid Harpoon, “Aperture” brings a new club-esque sound that contrasts with Styles’ previous bodies of work. Immediately, the animated synths are contrasted with a strong, bouncy bass that embodies electronic dance-pop aesthetics. Its upbeat format is not meant to be just a head-bopper, but a song that people can jump around and dance to.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
The lyrics do not offer any deep complexity and are very repetitive, making them easy to recite but less impactful as a work of art.
The bridge towards the end is enjoyable because it offers a different flow from the bridge and chorus. He repeats, “I won’t stray from it/ I don’t know these spaces/ Time won’t wait on me/
I wanna know what safe is.”
Here, Styles sings about being isolated in new environments and navigating those uncomfortable moments. This, layered under the melodic beat, feels like a break from the rest of the song, where you can actually immerse yourself in the lyrics.
Styles’ vocal effects are interesting in this track because he utilizes a muffled megaphone-like effect, similar to a track from his previous album, “Grapejuice.” Styles includes prolonged glitchy vocal stalls at the end of certain sentences, creating an effect that parallels electronic dance music.
Following the release of the track, he published the music video on YouTube. Styles gets chased around a hotel by a stranger while fighting and doing synchronized choreography. The connection between these visuals and the lyrics’ emphasis on aperture and belonging together with someone reads as quite a stretch. Still, the creativity is present in the form of compelling shots.
The overall production value is very clean and well put together. The song is appreciated for its upbeat tempo that encourages dancing, whether it’s with yourself or with others. “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” has big shoes to fill when it comes to the rest of Styles’ discography.
