Dinner Party (2026)

"It’s spectacularly unspectacular, a dependable album from an artist who knows what he’s good at and whose songwriting feels rooted in a genuinely optimistic world-view. That isn’t to say Horan doesn’t have his demons. The big talking point is its closing tune, a thoughtful, melancholic farewell to his late bandmate Liam Payne, who died in 2024. It’s a beautifully vulnerable tribute from Horan, who saw Payne just a few weeks before his death. Elsewhere, the tone is one of restrained bubbliness. Horan has named Damien Rice as an inspiration for "Dinner Party". But other influences are even clearer. The spirit of Death Cab for Cutie and Tame Impala – indie bands who don’t mind shifting a few units – shimmers through the restrained alt-pop of "Tastes So Good" and the title track. Upbeat pop is where Horan is in his element. "Fighting Over Nothing" surfs on swooping soft-rock guitars, while "Boys Are Fun" is an agreeable 1970s-inflected homage to Harry Nilsson and Billy Joel." (Irisch Times; 4 uit 5 sterren)

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