NEWS
EVENTS
Album of the Month - Settle (Disclosure)
With the much-anticipated release of their debut album, can Disclosure continue the runaway success of their singles whilst remaining faithful to their original fans?
Disclosure may not be seen as an underground act anymore, but it’s with good reason – how could we not choose Settle as our album of the month! With their wide-appealing mixture of soulful vocals and upbeat garage vibe, it’s hardly surprising that Disclosure’s debut album has shot straight to the top of the UK album charts. It’s a slick, tightly produced compilation which has been credited with bringing the UK underground garage and house sound to the attention of a global mainstream audience – thanks to Disclosure, you can now turn on daytime Kiss FM and be able to listen to quality house between Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. It’s an incredible achievement for the 19 and 22 year olds from Surrey. The classic dancefloor smashes Latch and White Noise are on here, as well as the more recent success You and Me, which may have revived Eliza Dolittle’s career.
“When A Fire Starts To Burn” is a confident, attention-grabbing opening to the album, with a strong beat and a catchy eponymous sample. “Stimulation” is another personal favourite: it’s a fast-paced track lifting the energy levels halfway through the album, although it may not be destined for as much success in the singles chart due to its fidelity to the simplistic beats rather than a pop song’s structure. “Confess to Me” featuring Jessie Ware is less of an escapist affair as Disclosure’s last remix of Jessie with its thumping beat, although her vocals are just as beautiful as always. The hugely underrated British singer songwriter Jamie Woon also features on “January” – the pairing of his vocals with the Disclosure sound seems as if it was always meant to be and hopefully we may see more collaboration like this from both parties in the future.
“Settle” is a strong debut album for Guy and Howard Ritchie - from the well-structured songs featuring guest artists for the Top 40 fans, to more instrumental tracks for those of us who knew and loved the duo back when they were just finding their feet – there’s enough material on here to keep all Disclosure fans happy.
Miriam Johnson @MiriamEJohnson
