#Icarus falls full#

Icarus Falls begins with 12 love songs that dance between R&B and pop. The album’s two sections are separated by “Icarus Interlude,” a moody midpoint that marks the transition and exacerbates the contrast between the first and second halves.

#Icarus falls full#

It’s divided into two parts, with the first half being full of head-in-the-clouds romance and the second exploring the artist’s battles with fame and relationship issues. The album is 27 tracks long - a length that is daunting at first but seems to work considering its organization.

Like his last album, Icarus Falls presents a consistent selection of R&B tracks and incorporates enjoyable pop moments that create a sense of balance throughout the album. Through his exploration of different styles and a simultaneously overarching and cohesive mood, Zayn creates a solid album that helps define his style and personality as a brooding and enigmatic pop star with R&B tendencies. With Icarus Falls, however, Zayn does this successfully.

Mind of Mine fared well with fans and was relatively critically successful, but it wasn’t enough to solidify his personality as an artist and a public figure. Its sultry songs were a turn away from the fun and upbeat music of One Direction and marked the beginning of a new, rebellious image for the pop star. The release of Zayn’s debut album, Mind of Mine, a year later, was the introduction of a new, sulky R&B persona. After a hiatus of nearly three years, Zayn’s long-awaited sophomore album, Icarus Falls, has arrived and has shown a more mature side of the artist to his fans.Īfter leaving the immensely popular boy band, One Direction, in 2015, Zayn’s fate was uncertain - many questioned whether he had the talent and appeal to be successful as a solo artist.