“How do you stay motivated in the midst of everything that’s going on?” the sampled intro into ‘Settle’ asks. “As much as you like to be in your comfort zone, the reality is that everything changes,” the disembodied voice yells.
Which might lead you to believe that we’re about to hear Disclosure dabbling in pirate metal, or speed reggae. No, in fact everything sounds extremely Disclosure-y. You know, spidery basslines and frenetic garage beats.
But sometimes uniformity is no bad thing at all – when you get the formula right, that is – and Guy and Howard Lawrence prove just that on their debut LP.
The voice marches on, continuing to work its magic on ‘When A Fire Starts To Burn’, a Chicago-leaning, handclapping and finger-clickin’ good track. With vocal guesting from Friendly Fires’ Ed Macfarlane, nighttime warbler Jamie Woon and Jessie Ware, the duo gives chanteurs and chanteuses the chance to shine over a splurge of hollowed-out beats.
‘Help Me Lose My Mind’ is the most pared-down offering, a soulful ballad that has the voice of London Grammar vocalist Hannah Reid melting irresistibly over the top.
It’s on tracks like ‘Latch’ that we see exactly why Disclosure have crept to the top of the charts, yet remain on the setlists of top selectors – it’s their ability to solder emotion and soul onto hyperactive dance riddims.
So perhaps, the pair has settled – but only for that rude, swinging percussion and feel-good jams that they’ve perfected. So sue them.
8/10
Words: Felicity Martin
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