Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Niall Horan, known as the only Irish man from the popular British boy band, One Direction, released his debut solo album, “Flicker,” last Friday. Noticed primarily for his blond hair and guitar playing, the singer spent his time in the boy band typically masked underneath the bold voices and demeanors of his other bandmates like Harry Styles and Zayn Malik, who have released solo albums since the band’s hiatus in December of 2015.
Bringing back the nostalgia of One Direction’s “Made in The A.M.,” the final album the group released before their split, with his first released single “This Town,” Horan brought back the familiar sound the band had been heading for back in 2015. Beautifully caressing his tender and delicate vocals with simple guitar and piano instrumentals, the song is a relaxing listen that stays quite static.
Surprising fans with his second single release, which is also found on “Flicker,” “Slow Hands” displays a side of the singer that was briefly explored in some of the sleeker songs seen throughout One Direction’s albums. “Slow Hands” breaks the folk pop sound Horan has settled into by exhibiting some funk and rock beats. “Got me now and I can’t say no / Wanna be with you all alone / Take me home, take me home.” Humorously, the artist repeats “Take Me Home,” the title of One Direction’s sophomore album where they had begun to bud into more vaguely mature topics.
“Seeing Blind,” featuring Maren Morris, an American country artist known best for her songs “My Church” and “I Could Use a Love Song,” is a wonderful folk pop ballad between two lovers. “Oh, my, my, you just took me by surprise / And I can’t believe my eyes / Oh, I must be seeing blind.” Joining him in harmony in the second verse, Morris adopts a low alto harmony that compliments Horan’s baritone lyrics. Alternating between individual and shared verses, the pair create a wonderful tale of new love. “Oh, no I, you’re too good to be all mine / Now I’m looking in your eyes / Oh, I must be seeing blind.” It is a beyond-catchy tune that will be stuck in the listener’s head. Morris will also be joining Horan on his 2018 tour as a special guest with a stop in Nashville, Tennessee on July 23.
The album-titled song, “Flicker,” appears as the eighth song on the 13-track album. The song commences with a gentle- strum of guitar and light near choral drone. Breaking into the first verse, a descending downbeat is placed between each separation of phrase. “Then I think of the start / And it echoes a spark / And I remember the magic electricity.” The song takes on the perspective of a lover who has lost his loved one and is left to cling to what hope remains. This theme is common throughout the album, as it is seen to repeat in the song “Too Much to Ask.”
A favorite of the album is “On My Own,” which commences with “Everybody’s got somebody / I just wanna be alone.” Horan, who has always been the bachelor of One Direction, talks about how he is all right with being alone and even prefers it while debuting some Irish rock.
Horan’s “Flicker” is a glimpse at what could have been with One Direction. It takes a deeper look into his personal life and his growth as a vocalist and musician. Although “Flicker” lacks in variety, it is enjoyable to listen to and will please One Direction fans alike.
Photo: NiallHoranVEVO via YouTube.com
