Zayn

Nobody Is Listening

Despite its brooding introduction, Nobody Is Listening shows both restraint and growth from a new dad who just turned 28, even if the songs seem more reflective of his relationship with longtime partner Gigi Hadid than of his journey into fatherhood.

There’s a clarity here, a sense of maturity in the lyrics too – something that was often missing in his previous work. ‘Nobody is Listening’ has its flaws, but Zayn is clearly working out a few chinks in his armour, and this comes across as a step in a new and fresh direction for the enigmatic artist.

The former One Directioner has retreated to the bedroom on this impressively assured set of R&B booty calls.

Right now ... he isn’t out to change the world or reveal profound truths. Zayn is here to look and sound good late in the evening when the lights are low and the scented candles flicker.

These 11 songs are largely hazy, stoned R&B, offering blurred textures and smoky atmospheres but few standout moments.

The boy band graduate remains desperate to remind you that he has sex, eager to insist that he smokes. His falsetto is beautiful, but he’s never sounded like this much of an amateur.

The former One Directioner's new album is billed as his 'most personal project to date'  but it offers no narrative to speak of and only brief glimpses of personality.

The former One Direction member is still navel-gazing, boasting about his sex life and failing to make the most of his talents.

Sadly, the pacing of Nobody is Listening maintains a boner shrinking monotonous trudge through recycled phrases about sex and intimacy.