Album Review: Disclosure - Settle

Settle starts off with a figurative bang. A whole lot of energy and flair is stuffed into the first couple songs and the rest of the album sort of tags along, brought to life by a spread of choice featuring vocalists who provide a reflective R&B afterglow to this mellow dance music album.

First up is the UK duo's latest single, When A Fire Starts To Burn, with its evangelical vocal sample that transitions seamlessly from the preacher-spun Intro about the inevitability of change. The chill, sophisticated vibe of the album is set in place from this first song with sharp drumbeats and a polished bass line on electronic organ.

Track three is the album highlight and hit single, Latch, featuring the smooth melodies of Sam Smith and a striking falsetto chorus where he sings the haunting refrain, “got you shackled in my embrace/I'm latching onto you”.

It's the slick production, sharp cuts and stutters that transform Settle from straight mournful R&B to something upbeat, an album that hurtles forward. Brief and dreamy, Second Chance is the best example of production creativity on the cut, with vocals chopped up and distorted into a deep baritone register. The following track, Grab Her, is a bit of a misstep, full of dissonant chords and a crude simplicity that doesn't fit on such a delicate record.

By the time the last few tracks roll around, some of the magic has worn off but the echoed harmonies of Sasha Keable on Voices and the lyrics of Jamie Woon on January make up for the far too constant pop of the EDM drum.

Dance music mixed with a heaped teaspoon of emotion and soul is a winning combination and Settle is an exquisite showcase of how electronic music can be beautiful.