Since disembarking from the One Direction juggernaut in 2015, Zayn Malik has taken the path less travelled. His 2016 solo debut, Mind of Mine, housed the global smash Pillowtalk, but was followed by the 27-track concept album Icarus Falls. While his former bandmates have toured the world, Malik only recently played his first ever gig as a solo artist. This fourth album is another unexpected manoeuvre. Eschewing his pop R&B sound, it focuses on rustic acoustic guitars, tinkling keys and the patter of live drums, assisted by Nashville producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile).
For the most part, the minimalism suits Malik. On keening first single What I Am, his rich, elegantly frayed vocal coats a soft-rock lilt and nagging melody, while How It Feels is an emotionally raw lament. The sparse Shoot at Will finds him picking at a frayed relationship like a worldweary troubadour. It’s left to the breezy Stardust to interrupt the navel gazing. While there are some lyrical clunkers (Concrete Kisses features a line about a “a big old cup of shit”), and the mood can feel one-note, it’s a record that further cements Malik as an intriguing outlier.