Project Description

NIALL HORAN‘Flicker’ (Album Review)

“I know what she’s like, she’s out of her mind and wraps herself around the truth. She’ll jump on that flight and meet you that night, make you tear up the room. Yeah, she loves when everybody’s watching, she knows the way her body moves. She loves the way they all crawl back when she says she loves nobody else but you…”On The Loose

 

Niall Horan

Photo Credit – Gwendolyn Lee Photography (2017)

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Flicker is the new debut album from Irish singer songwriter Niall Horan. Today is the day, kids! This album has been a long time coming but alas it is here and Niall fans rejoice! If you got a chance to see Niall on the Flicker Sessions Tour these past few months, you would’ve already been introduced to Flicker and its track list. Flicker, the album is ten tracks long. The Deluxe edition is 15 which includes two acoustic versions of Flicker and On The Loose.

 

Check out the Track List of Flicker (Deluxe Edition) below –

  1. On The Loose 

  2. This Town 

  3. Seeing Blind (with Maren Morris) 

  4. Slow Hands 

  5. Too Much To Ask 

  6. Paper Houses 

  7. Since We’re Alone 

  8. Flicker 

  9. Fire Away 

  10. You And Me 

  11. On My Own

  12. Mirrors

  13. The Tide

  14. Flicker (Acoustic) 

  15. On The Loose (Acoustic)

 

Niall Horan

Photo Credit – Gwendolyn Lee Photography (2017)

 

The first single from the album, This Town was Niall’s debut single as a solo artist following the hiatus of boyband One Direction. This Town was a surprise to most fans, after all Niall had gone from performing either a crazy, upbeat pop hit or a pop ballad in One Direction to a stripped acoustic track all on his own. The acoustic love song was the perfect introduction to Niall as a solo artist. This Town’s official YouTube video racked up over 18 million views since its release in November 2016, debuting at #1 on the Aussie and US iTunes Charts and at #2 on the British charts, claiming #1 on the US iTunes Sales Charts.

The second single (and no doubt one of my favourite songs from the album) Slow Hands was released in May of this year, racking up a total of over 119 million views between the official audio and lyric videos on YouTube. Slow Hands introduced the world to a deep, mature Niall Horan who is no longer a boy, but a man. The song is catchy, fun and the kind of song that will get stuck in your head for days on end. Slow Hands debuted at #1 on the US, Canadian and Brazilian iTunes Charts, #2 on the British iTunes charts and in the Top 20 of the Aussie iTunes charts before shooting right up to the #1 spot. The single has managed to stay within the Top 40 since its release on May 4th across the Aussie, UK, Canadian and US iTunes charts.

The third single from the album, pop ballad Too Much To Ask was released mid last month, debuting at #1 on the Aussie, Italian, US and Canadian iTunes charts. Between the official audio and the music video, both have racked up over 22 million views on YouTube in just four weeks.

 

“Since we’re alone. Yeah, you can show me your heart. If you put it all in my hand, no sweat. No, I won’t break it apart. Since we’re alone, show me all that you are and if you get lost in the light, it’s okay. I can see in the dark…”Since We’re Alone

 

Niall Horan

Photo Credit – Gwendolyn Lee Photography (2017)

 

Without giving too much away, I can say that Flicker is a journey through the mind of the true, matured Niall Horan. The journey of love, heartbreak, sex, relationships; the normal experiences everyone has and everyone goes through. On The Loose is an electric guitar led pop-indie track with catchy lyrics about a hypnotising woman who knows how to play the game of love. Seeing Blind is a collaboration with Niall’s support Act on the Flicker 2018 World Tour, American Country singer Maren Morris; which seems fitting because Seeing Blind is a real, country-folk hit. Paper Houses is an acoustic guitar led song about love and heartbreak. Fire Away is a stripped back ballad about being the love and support for someone who is lost within themselves, whether it be a lover, a significant other or even a family member.

 

“When I was young, my heart was always on the run but you made lovin’ fun. I never knew it could be, now I see you from a different point of view. I feel it’s too good to be true. I found my missing piece…”Seeing Blind

 

The song named after the album, Flicker is a four minute purely acoustic track about that flicker of hope found between a love that was thought to be lost. Flicker is definitely the rawest, the purest, the most emotionally driven track of the album. You And Me has a real laid back rock ballad feel to it, talking about the journey of love and relationships. On My Own is the track that all Niall Horan fans have been waiting for; it’s every bit gritty with Irish folk song written all over it. Mirrors is a hip swaying pop-rock hit with hard and heavy lyrics about a girl and the struggles she faces on her own. Last, but not least, The Tide is an indie track led by a transcendent piano melody; the tide being a metaphor for the barrier and obstacle that breaks two lovers apart every time things seem to start going right for them.

 

“When you feel your love’s been taken, when you know there’s something missing. In the dark, we’re barely hangin’ on. Then you rest your head upon my chest and you feel like there ain’t nothing left. I’m afraid that what we had is gone. Then I think of the start, and it echoes a spark and I remember the magic electricity. Then I look in my heart, there’s a light in the dark. Still a flicker of hope that you first gave to me that I wanna keep. Please don’t leave…”Flicker

 

Niall Horan

 

Flicker, what an introduction to Niall Horan the solo artist, Niall Horan the songwriter, Niall Horan the storyteller. Flicker is definitely not an album you’d catch yourself dancing to BUT it’s definitely an album that is going to stick with you for a long time. Captivating lyrics and beautiful melodies with multi-faceted layers; you are taken on a journey, a rollercoaster to the deepest thoughts and workings of Niall Horan’s mind. Niall has truly put all his thoughts and emotions into this album. It’s an experience, that’s for sure. I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store for Niall, bring on the Flicker World Tour!

Flicker, Niall Horan. Go check it out!

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AMNPLIFY – DB

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