Review of Caracal Album by Disclosure

After what seemed like a millennia in publically promoting one of the most anticipated records of the year, Disclosure are finally here with their second album 'Caracal', alongside a host of guest artists such as Sam Smith, Lorde and The Weeknd. 

Disclosure Caracal Album

Making every effort to perpetuate their success following their debut album 'Settle', the young Lawrence brothers have been working hard promoting the album with every avenue and media format possible. And it is definitely worth the wait, though it did feel like half the album had been heard before throughout the summer already. 

Entering the scene as teenagers, they have fused pop into house, showing a side of EDM that isn't just beats per minute and extravagant bass lines. They are more composed and the brothers feel more like songwriters than music producers. 

That's is what 'Caracal' is all about; slow beats and soft melodies for getting your two step on, rather than foot stomping beats. Minimalist-pop-house; it isn't really big room music. You won't see Hardwell or Sebastian Ingrosso choosing many Disclosure tracks for their amphitheatre arenas, and you will be better off experiencing 'Caracal' in a small intimate gig than anywhere else - it's that type of album. Soulful rather than soulless. 

The featured guests come in thick and fast, with the first six tracks featuring The Weekend, who do the intro; Sam Smith on their latest radio hit 'Omen'; Gregory Porter; Lion Babe; and Kwabs. 

'Nocturnal', which features the Weekend, is trademark Disclosure and much of the album is like this. Guy and Howard Lawrence have proved their ability to be inventive, innovative and still provide funky beats, as well as the breaks and drops that would be familiar in conventional EDM.

'Holding On' and 'Hourglass' gets the best of Gregory Porter and Lion Babe respectively using their powerful voices, and have some of the most thumping beats and upbeat tempos on the album. The tracks seem to have similar formulas which works well.

'Molecule' is one of the rare tracks without a featuring artist, yet is one of the best. Excellent lyrics with such a moving beat. Pure funk reminiscent of Deadmau5. 

'Moving Mountains' is easily the slowest paced track, using delicate percussion and the voice of Brendan Reiley. It is this kind of track that illustrates how different Disclosure are as producers of electronic music. They fail to conform to the popular endemic of EDM and focus on themselves. 

Of course, there must be one big house tune on the album, and 'Bang That' provides drops with more intensity, that repetitive monologue that you can only get away with in a EDM tune and loads of synth. Arguably the best track on the album. Surely to be a storming end of year for the young brothers. 

4/5

Adam Holden


Official Site - http://www.disclosureofficial.com/

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