Disclosure fails to deliver with their newest album
With a two-year gap since the release of their freshman album, Settle, Disclosure is back with the highly anticipated Caracal, an album that loses the energy and rapturous pop hooks of their debut.
In Settle, the English electronic music duo created the right balance between dance and pop music. Brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence made a statement, reminiscent of the earlier days of house music. Settle did not feature big drops. In fact, it seemed to function well without them, though guests would soon become household names such as Sam Smith, AlunaGeorge and London Grammar. The record’s summer vibes were filled with sweetness and sunshine. But seasons change. The group has grown from their humble beginnings playing for friends at local clubs to making appearances at some of the world’s major music festivals nowadays.
Caracal does not begin with a banger, but rather with “Nocturnal,” a minimal dance number featuring vocals from The Weekend that do not give Disclosure room enough to breathe.
The second track features Sam Smith, yet again. “Omen,” the album’s lead single, clearly tries to mimic the success of “Latch,” by highlighting Smith’s silky vocals and Disclosure’s blooming beats. But while catchy and dynamic, “Omen” lacks the infectious frisky nature of “Latch.”
“Jaded,” is the first all-Disclosure piece on the record. The track features vocals from Howard along with a unique under-driven melody that steers the album in a more production-heavy direction from this point on.
“Echoes” is the second all-Disclosure solo piece the duo delivers. The synth-heavy track includes some of the album’s best lyrical works: “Don’t you remember anything that you said / Forgot the memories that fell through the net / you go on and on / I can sing along ’cause you’re the echo that’s in my head.”
In Caracal, there are no surprises, no risks. Some collaborations, such as those with LION BABE, Gregory Porter and Miguel, dissolve into the background. Lorde’s vocals on “Magnets” sound aloof. Disclosure’s reliance on guest appearances causes them to forget their innovative sound launched them into success in the first place. Caracal is a dark album with lower BPM, minimal production and more self-serious lyrics. It is closer to R&B than pop. From the first song to the last, Caracal is an album with not-that-catchy generic R&B tracks. Though the majority of the tracks are average, none fall flat. Disclosure had big shoes to fill in following the success of Settle.
The Lawrence brothers know what works best for them — radio-friendly house beats with soulful vocals. Though the response to Settle was overwhelmingly positive, instead of continuing their innovative path the English duo followed the same template they used in the past. In many ways, Disclosure is victim of its own success. Caracal would be perfect if the tracks were scattered throughout a house party mix but when listened during one sitting, it becomes an undefined mush. Caracal is in need of something extra. It leaves listeners reaching for something more — and it just isn’t there.
The duo is set to celebrate the release of their sophomore album Sept. 29 with a performance at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.