Album- Settle
Artist- Disclosure
Disclosure emerged as one of the rising music stars of 2013,
with their debut album reaching number 1 in the UK music charts. The group have
also been credited by many as making dance pop music interesting again and
reviving the UK garage music of the 1990’s. Whilst I am not going to pretend
that I totally understand that genre as I was just a child in the 90’s, I am
just going to look at this album with a fresh mind and see just how cool a
group Disclosure are.
Track 1- Intro
This 1 minute long Intro sets the record up nicely in terms
of grabbing our attention and almost giving the record this cinematic tone. The
track finds a man speaking to an audience about how, in order to get in the
zone and stay true to yourself, you have to except change is inevitable, whilst
also talking about the power of fire. The speech sounds very powerful and
backed by simple electronic beats, the short intro powerfully opens up the
record in a cinematic way, and also nicely links to the next track, leaving you
slightly intrigued.
3.5/5
Track 2- When a Fire
Starts to Burn
Leading on from where Intro left off, When a Fire Starts to
Burn finds this man simply repeating this one line about fire spreadin and
bringing attitude home. The simple repetition is weird and cool but can also
become a little annoying for some listeners. However, in terms of the record
this is a great song in slowly building us into getting to know the duo’s
sound, with the simple electro dance beats having this frenzied tone that is
smooth and creates a song that nicely straddles the line of something to chill
too and something to dance to. The introduction of bass and strings in places
adds some interesting twists to the music, and whilst you may get annoyed of
speech guy, this track definitely works in keeping your attention purely based
on the sound that feels sophisticated and powerful.
3.5/5
Track 3- Latch
(featuring Sam Smith)
Released as the first single from the record, Latch is a
cool mid tempo jam from the group that melds their interesting dance music with
the velvety smooth voice of singer Sam Smith for a piece of quite sensual and
potent music. Latch lyrically focuses on Smith speaking of being enchanted by
this person and simply stating that they are latching onto their love and never
letting the person go. The track is both sweet and sensual and is powerfully
helped by the richness of Smith’s vocals, which give the track this smooth
passion that is awesome. Vocally Smith is also really powerful in terms of the
way he uses his voice, with the falsetto moments contrasting nicely with the
deeper vocal sections and making the track go to an even more attention
grabbing level. Disclosure provide snappy electro beats that give a glimmering
sheen to the track, with the simple but powerful bass giving the song this
great intensity. It may be a more simple pop song than it is a garage number,
but its smoothness and interesting structure is really great and brings some vibrancy
to dance music.
4/5
Track 4- F for You
With a steady electro rhythm that has a little bit of an
international flavour about it in my opinion, F for You is a good song in the
way that it has this sort of intensity that builds and makes for an interesting
track. In terms of the lyrical content the track focuses on the idea of this
male singing of being infected by this person and becoming a fool for them,
with the songs simple message cutting straight to the heart of the matter and
being more powerful because of this. The track is however hindered a little
because the lyrics become a bit too repetitive. However, with the smoothness
and icy cool tone of the vocal, the repetition is a little less noticeable and
also feels a bit more potent. The songs funky bass line and snappy rhythms are
beautifully executed and also gives the song this almost ethereal quality with
the electro swirls, and the track furthermore has this live quality that
suggests this will be a good track when performed live by the boys.
3.5/5
Track 5- White Noise
(featuring AlunaGeorge)
Becoming both Disclosure’s and AlunaGeorge’s biggest hit too
date, White Noise is an up tempo dance and house track that sees the two groups
become in sync and create some really good dance music. The tracks focuses on
Aluna of AlunaGeorge singing to this guy of the turmoil he creates for her and how
his words have just become like white noise. It is an interesting lyrical
concept that is structured well, particularly in terms of the catchy simplicity
of the chorus. However, the vocals and production are definitely a step above
the lyrical content. Disclosure give us a great mix of this moody, humming bass
line and swirling synths that are matched with addictive club beats that will
have you wanting to dance. With the pitched vocal performance of Aluna
providing a cool vocal that is immediately attention grabbing, this is a smart
song that acts as a smart single release and which is powerful dance music for
the 21st century.
4.5/5
Track 6- Defeated No
More (featuring Ed Macfarlane)
Continuing with the snappy up tempo quality of the previous
track, Defeated No More is a cool dance track with a slightly lighter tone than
the previous number, and with a sound that also feels a bit more pop driven and
a bit more straightforwardly influenced by 90’s music. The songs production has
a snappy base mixed with smooth synths and this almost ethereal tone that is
nice to listen to, whilst Macfarlane’s vocals are nicely pitched a little to
give the track this airy quality and making the meaning of the track feel more
potent. The lyrics of the song focus on Macfarlane telling us of how he doesn’t
feel defeated because he has just let this girl go, giving us a relationship
based tune all about simple closure. The lyrics have this cool honesty and
sincerity, whilst the use of the battle metaphor is executed in a catchy way.
With this track the softness just builds on you and is cool in the way that it
is over six minutes long but doesn’t feel dragged out, and I wouldn’t be
surprised if this made its way onto a list of potential singles from the
record.
4/5
Track 7- Stimulation
With its funky bass line and immediately catchy dance
groove, Stimulation is another tune that feels quite 90’s influenced. The song
features some distorted vocals that focus on the idea of being energetic and
getting stimulated, and although the vocals are intriguing, the distortion and
lack of a powerful hook does start to make the song wear thin on the listeners
mind. And whilst the bouncy, clattering rhythm of the track is fun and frenzied
in a way that feels like the duo are enjoying themselves, ultimately Stimulation
is a track that keeps you just ticking along waiting for the next proper
stomping tune.
2.5/5
Track 8- Voices
(featuring Sasha Keable)
Continuing with the identifiably 90’s, funky grooves, Voices
is perhaps a little weak in that the production feels a bit familiar when
placed after the previous track. However, the synth swirls and moody elements
of the production create a cool, steady rhythm that still feels fun, and this
track is better than the last offering thanks to the soulful RnB driven vocal
performance of guest feature Sasha Keable. Within the song Keable sings of how
she has tried to resist this person but with the voices in her head she can’t
help but yield, and in many ways the lyrics perfectly capture the way that Disclosure
really command your attention with their music.
3.5/5
Track 9- Second
Chance
Second Chance is more of production driven interlude than an
actual track and as such feels a bit weaker than some of the other offerings.
However, the quirky style of the processed vocal is intriguing and attention grabbing,
whilst the quirky electronic tones of the track with the bubbly synths works
well and equally maintains your attention. The track lacks a lyrical centre,
with the sentiment of trying to be happy with this person perhaps being
conveyed, but more than anything this track just seems designed to be more of
an interlude.
3/5
Track 10- Grab Her!
The featureless, lyrically lacking quality of the previous
track continues with Grab Her, a moody electro house affair in which the duo
tell us to ‘grab her, ya ha’. Just who ‘her’ is isn’t really addressed, and for
the most part the song focuses more on getting you to move to the clattering
house rhythms and funky techno beats. This just means that the track would work
well in a club setting and as a track for the groups live sets, but in
listening to the album as a whole this once again feels like more of an
interlude, and after around three minutes you can become bored of the track.
2.5/5
Track 11- You &
Me (featuring Eliza Doolittle)
Third single You & Me features British singer songwriter
Eliza Doolittle and finds the singer telling us of how she has given this
person her heart and how it is just going to be her and this person forever,
and she asks them to not let her heart go. The lyrical composition is tightly
structured with a simple chorus, but what really makes the song worthwhile is
Doolittle’s languid vocals, as she brings that essence of charm and euphoria to
the song and makes this track feel sincere. Doolittle also nicely fits
comfortably into this sea of ambient house beats and snappy garage production,
making this a cool slice of house music from the duo and showing us a cool side
of Eliza Doolittle.
3.5/5
Track 12- January
(featuring Jamie Woon)
British singer Jamie Woon teams up with Disclosure for
January, a pulsating house track in which Woon sings of how they had this
brighter day with this person, and they recall this January memory which was
great, but they were left to keep calling this person. Whilst the snappy house
vibe of the song is a little too typical of the duo at this point, the song is
made better by Woon’s soulful vocals, as he brings some depth to the track and
plays the role of a hurt guy quite well. The song does take a bit to get into,
but the lyrical concept of song is interesting and executed well, making for a
solid if not as good as the other tracks sort of a listen.
3/5
Track 13- Confess to
Me (featuring Jessie Ware)
Confess to Me is a euphoric slice of deep house music in
which the duo team up with British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. The song
focuses on Ware singing of how she can fulfil this persons desires for them if
they just confess their feelings to her. The track is lyrically poetic and
catchy whilst Ware is a great guest vocalist as her breathy vocals give the
track this perfect essence of euphoria. Furthermore, with the blend of clunky
techno beats and frenzied dance rhythms, the track is just made into a fine
slice of dance music that is another potential single opportunity in the
making.
4/5
Track 14- Help Me
Lose My Mind (featuring London Grammar)
Final track Help Me Lose My Mind sees the duo pairing with
fellow rising British stars London Grammar, and ending the album on more of a
toned down, chilled level to have you come down from the house music high. That
is not to say that this is some kind of dreary ballad, but instead we are just
treated to electro swirls and scattered beats that just creates this more
atmospheric slice of music that still retains that cool 90’s feel but which is
just nicely subdued. London Grammar’s lead vocalist Hannah Reid is a gorgeous
guest vocalist who provides us with a silky smooth vocal that puts you at ease
very easily. The song focuses on the singer asking this person to help her lose
her mind, as she has been waiting for them, and lyrically this is just a nicely
paced piece with an instantly catchy chorus.
Final Review
Settle just situates itself as a commanding, polished debut
album from a music duo that have all the right things going for them. The list
of guest artists that feature on this record all really bring something to the
table, mostly giving us stunning guest vocals that really help to characterise the
tracks. Each of the songs are lyrically crafted very well and therefore are
extremely catchy, and whilst the record does slip a bit in quality in the
middle, overall the duo’s use of electronic beats creates this great vibe to
listen to and gives us a record that feels like a progressive journey, with the
album definitely being more innovative and interesting in its tackling of the
dance genre.
8.5/10
Best Track- White
Noise (featuring AlunaGeorge)
Worst Track- Grab
Her!
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