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More than a year after his group, One Direction, went on hiatus, Irish singer/songwriter Niall Horan became the third 1D member to release a solo studio full-length. Whereas Zayn Malik took his R&B talents into the bedroom and Harry Styles modeled himself after iconic rock frontmen of old, Horan went in a decidedly safer, center-lane direction on the yearning Flicker. Paying homage to classic rock influences like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Dire Straits, Horan contemporized those bands' sounds with pop flair, resulting in an immensely soothing and enjoyable record that fits nicely alongside those of Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. Featuring production by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia), Julian Bunetta, and Mike Needle and Jamie Scott (One Direction), the mostly wholesome and wide-eyed Flicker bounces between youthful love songs -- including the surprisingly naughty single "Slow Hands" -- and relatable heartbreak laments. With simple, straightforward lyrics, the concise set of ten tracks is effective and hits the proper emotional notes. On "Too Much to Ask," a sad Horan reflects "My shadow's dancing without you for the first time," while on the standout title track, he repeats "Please don't leave" to a departed love. These tracks are emotional, surely, but against the backdrop of such delicate production, they are spared from becoming too self-indulgent and depressing. Elsewhere, the bass thrum and guitar work of Fleetwood Mac enliven Flicker, like on the "Dreams"-esque opener "On the Loose," the comforting "You and Me," and the lush "Since We're Alone," which also benefits from a faint "Sultans of Swing" influence. Without a weak song in the batch, Flicker is consistently full of highlights, including "Seeing Blind," a rousing duet with American country singer Maren Morris. One Directioners will no doubt relish every moment of Flicker, but for casual fans potentially wary of the boy band stigma, they can rest assured knowing that Horan has taken a big first step into musical maturity, with his own voice and deep well of emotion.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
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Julian Bunetta, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Dantzler, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Chamberlain, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Val McCallum, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Ryan, ComposerLyricist - Tommy King, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Niall Horan, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Goldenburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Jamie Scott, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, Producer, String Arranger, Drums, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Leisz, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Marie Calhoun, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Niall Horan, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Bryer, ComposerLyricist - Irina Chirkova, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Needle, ComposerLyricist - Ilona Geller, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Leah Zeger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2016 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Zac Rae, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Radosevich, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aaron Sterling, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Darken, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Jacquire King, Conductor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - John Joseph, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth-Anne Cunningham, ComposerLyricist - Niall Horan, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maren Morris, MainArtist - John Rausch, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thomson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Kolton Lee, Editor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Julian Bunetta, Producer, Engineer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Background Vocalist, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Dantzler, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Emery, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Producer, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - John Ryan, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eric Greedy, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tommy King, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Freeman, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth-Anne Cunningham, ComposerLyricist - Niall Horan, Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - A. Izquierdo, ComposerLyricist - Mark Goldenburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Afterhrs, Producer, Synthesizer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Tobias Jesso Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Jamie Scott, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Niall Horan, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Zac Rae, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aaron Sterling, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Darken, Percussion, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Archer, ComposerLyricist - Jacquire King, Conductor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - John Joseph, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Stills, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Niall Horan, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Rausch, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thomson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Kolton Lee, Editor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, Producer, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth-Anne Cunningham, ComposerLyricist - Niall Horan, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Bridget Sarai, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - alex pasco, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julian Burg, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Zac Rae, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Julian Bunetta, ComposerLyricist - Teddy Geiger, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Aaron Sterling, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Daphne Chen, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Gorfain, String Arranger, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - John Ryan, ComposerLyricist - Leah Katz, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jacquire King, Conductor, Producer, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Joseph, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alisha Bauer, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Niall Horan, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Rausch, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spencer Thomson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kolton Lee, Editor, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Julian Bunetta, Producer, Drums, Piano, Recording Engineer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Ryan, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Niall Horan, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Matt Radosevich, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Darken, Percussion, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Fitchuk, Drums, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Jedd Hughes, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jacquire King, Conductor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Freeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Niall Horan, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Eli Beaird, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Rad, Producer, Engineer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - John Rausch, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Todd Lombardo, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Spencer Thomson, Guitar, Programming, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
Album review
More than a year after his group, One Direction, went on hiatus, Irish singer/songwriter Niall Horan became the third 1D member to release a solo studio full-length. Whereas Zayn Malik took his R&B talents into the bedroom and Harry Styles modeled himself after iconic rock frontmen of old, Horan went in a decidedly safer, center-lane direction on the yearning Flicker. Paying homage to classic rock influences like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and Dire Straits, Horan contemporized those bands' sounds with pop flair, resulting in an immensely soothing and enjoyable record that fits nicely alongside those of Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. Featuring production by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia), Julian Bunetta, and Mike Needle and Jamie Scott (One Direction), the mostly wholesome and wide-eyed Flicker bounces between youthful love songs -- including the surprisingly naughty single "Slow Hands" -- and relatable heartbreak laments. With simple, straightforward lyrics, the concise set of ten tracks is effective and hits the proper emotional notes. On "Too Much to Ask," a sad Horan reflects "My shadow's dancing without you for the first time," while on the standout title track, he repeats "Please don't leave" to a departed love. These tracks are emotional, surely, but against the backdrop of such delicate production, they are spared from becoming too self-indulgent and depressing. Elsewhere, the bass thrum and guitar work of Fleetwood Mac enliven Flicker, like on the "Dreams"-esque opener "On the Loose," the comforting "You and Me," and the lush "Since We're Alone," which also benefits from a faint "Sultans of Swing" influence. Without a weak song in the batch, Flicker is consistently full of highlights, including "Seeing Blind," a rousing duet with American country singer Maren Morris. One Directioners will no doubt relish every moment of Flicker, but for casual fans potentially wary of the boy band stigma, they can rest assured knowing that Horan has taken a big first step into musical maturity, with his own voice and deep well of emotion.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:35:55
- Main artists: Niall Horan
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Capitol Records (US1A)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd ℗ 2017 Neon Haze Music Ltd
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