Harry’s heading in a new direction

The waiting’s over as heartthrob Harry drops his much-anticipated solo album

He’s a man who needs no introduction, but as the opening chords of Meet Me In The Hallway pave the way for him to beg for morphine to “take the pain away”, it’s clear Harry Styles would quite like to reintroduce himself to us on his self-titled solo album.

As part of One Direction, a skinny jean-clad Harry would happily flip his curls while crooning “na na na” to a stadium full of screaming adolescents.

But with emotive indie ballads, such as Two Ghosts and From The Dining Table, and the acoustic number Sweet Creature, Harry’s clearly anticipating a bit less background noise on his upcoming sellout world tour.

The feelings-heavy tracks should fit nicely in the current Ed Sheeran-dominated charts too.

But that’s not the only direction Harry takes his new record, with the somber soundscapes of debut single Sign of the Times drawing comparisons with David Bowie, and the very funky Woman having hints of Elton John and Prince – an unsurprising inspiration, given Harry released his debut track on the 30th anniversary of the purple maestro’s Sign O’ The Times.

Many listeners have also noted a similarity between Sweet Creature and the Beatles’ hit Blackbird, but never is Harry’s appreciation for the Fab Four more apparent than in the classic rock ’n’ roll-inspired Carolina. “There’s not a drink that I think could sink her,” he sings.

Fans have been quick to assume the “red lips” and “blue eyes” references in Two Ghosts mean he’s penned his album about ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift, after Harry revealed a person he has had a “significant” relationship with has inspired a “huge part” of the album. But whoever she is, she sounds like a lot of fun.

In one of his heavier tracks, Kiwi, where Harry makes it clear he’s grown up since 1D, she’s a harddrinking, hard-smoking girl who is “all over me, like I’ve paid for it”.

Only Angel, another rockier track, sees Harry’s raspy vocals getting Jaggeresque among lyrics including: “Couldn’t take you home to mother in a skirt that short.”

It’s no wonder Harry felt confident enough to stage-dive at his debut gig in Brooklyn this week (although he sadly fell to the floor). He’s unlikely to inspire a mosh pit any time soon, but former Directioners should be pleased with Harry’s new sound. And hopefully, next time they’ll catch him.

The album is released today