Caracal
by Disclosure
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Sep 25, 2015
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 140 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 140
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 140
  3. Negative: 9 out of 140
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  1. roiebiebernadas
    Oct 23, 2015
    10
    Not surprised. Disclosure has created their sophomore album, and it was better than Settle, although both albums are unique at their own style. Disclosure has done it again.
  2. cjksn21
    Nov 8, 2015
    10
    The definition of crazy is doing the same thing twice and expecting different result….except when it comes to dropping an album. Some wanted a Settle 2. No doubt Settle was a classic and catches on instantly. This is more slow deep connection that draws you in after each listen but deeper than the first. They touched a different fan base a drew in a new crowd with this one. The bassThe definition of crazy is doing the same thing twice and expecting different result….except when it comes to dropping an album. Some wanted a Settle 2. No doubt Settle was a classic and catches on instantly. This is more slow deep connection that draws you in after each listen but deeper than the first. They touched a different fan base a drew in a new crowd with this one. The bass is phenonmenal, vocals are repetitive but fun, and some songs make you want to cruise, others just listen, and some just go out and party on New Years eve like there’s no tomorrow. You can listen to every song all the way through which to makes it a classic. Best song Hourglass, Nocturnal, Willing & Able, Good Intentions, Magnets. Caracal made me go buy actually CD which I haven’t done in years.… Expand
  3. ArcticMarkeys
    Oct 6, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The problem of 'Caracal' is the comparison with the previous album of the band. 'Settle' is a masterpiece, historical and unrepeatable deep house album, a great surprise from a new band. Then, the sophomore album is very complicated to face it. 'Caracal' is sophisticated, sometimes in excess, clean, with good melodies and great voices, but without surprises. The deep house arrangements that everybody loves of 'Settle' have been disappeared for more electronic pop rhythms (taking advantage of the current trend of pop) and overloaded songs. Only 'Holding On', 'Willing and Able' and 'Moving Mountains' sounds like the marvelous and underrated 'Defeated No More' or 'January' from 'Settle', the most representatives songs of a great deep house album. But 'Molecules', 'Superego', 'Echoes' and 'Magnets' are nice to listen and good productions. The Weeknd and Miguel's collaborations sounds like The Weeknd and Miguel songs, not like Disclosure songs. 'Omen' is pretentious and clearly they search the top of the charts, maybe is the worst track of the album and could it be a song of Bieber or Katy Perry. 'Bang That' is beautifully rare.… Expand
  4. agibbons_96
    Sep 30, 2015
    6
    After recording one of dance music's most critically-acclaimed debut albums in years, which merited two Grammy nominations and a nomination for the 2014 Mercury Prize, the British electronic duo of Guy and Howard Lawrence were compared to early revolutionaries of the house genre such as Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx. Expectations of the duo were very high long before the release of this,After recording one of dance music's most critically-acclaimed debut albums in years, which merited two Grammy nominations and a nomination for the 2014 Mercury Prize, the British electronic duo of Guy and Howard Lawrence were compared to early revolutionaries of the house genre such as Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx. Expectations of the duo were very high long before the release of this, their second album.

    The record features a stronger guest presence than their debut, "Settle", with nine of the albums eleven tracks featuring guest artists, including The Weeknd, Sam Smith, Lorde and American jazz musician, Gregory Porter. However, where the presence of the Lawrence brothers was always noticeable on "Settle", the wide variety of guests artists this time around plays to the records disadvantage, with very little in the form of cohesion between the tracks. While this is the album's major flaw, is almost seems the record was written not to be played from start to finish. The production on several tracks, particularly the Sam Smith-fronted "Omen" and "Jaded", make these two tracks feel quite flat and bland. "Holding On" and "Echoes" seem destined for huge amounts of play in nightclubs around the world. "Willing and Able" and "Good Intentions" demonstrate the deeper house sound that the duo have adopted since "Settle", while "Hourglass", featuring vocals from Lion Babe's Jillian Hervey is too long and and the bass is FAR too repetitive. Auto-tune also takes any emotion out the vocals on this track, and do so even more on "Omen", taking away the most identifiable aspect of Sam Smith's vocals in the process, but still manage to suit the song. When the guests vocalists, production and the instrumentals all come together, it just sounds fantastic. The Lorde-featured "Magnets" is unquestionably the best song on the album, with the New Zealand-born singer-songwriter providing one of the best vocal performances on a Disclosure track to date. The opener to the album, "Nocturnal" featuring R&B's newest sensation The Weeknd, could easily have fitted well on his latest album "Beauty Behind the Madness", as well as it being a strong opener to the album here with it's textured synths and good use of drum machine, although the instrumental section is a little drawn out. The closer of this record, "Masterpiece", is arguably, the most sensual song the duo have recorded to date.

    Overall, this album is quite a mixed bag, with potential hits, some fantastically written songs, and of course, it's fair share of stinkers. "Caracal" is not as good as "Settle", nor is it as cohesive, but it is an album that will likely maintain the duo's pop appeal whilst deepening their sound in the process. A solid album.

    Album Highlights - "Nocturnal", "Magnets" and "Echoes".    … Expand
  5. maxim98
    Oct 1, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a massive fan of Settle, this album came as a bit of a shock to the system, as it is definitely a far more experimental album with less focus on their deep house sound and more on a bass-fuelled pop sound which admittedly I can't get enough of right now.

    While admittedly it's inferior to Settle, tracks like Hourglass and Holding On feel like evolved forms of the best sounds from that previous album; which ultimately had they utilised this in more of the tracks I think this album would be garnering more attention than it currently is.

    I like to think I've supported this band from their incredible debut 2 years ago, and even though Settle had weaker tracks than others I think in particular 'Echoes' and 'Good Intentions' are not only both tracks that sound a little out of place on the album, but are almost filler material. Though so far that is my one and only criticism of the album. A must listen for fans, however this may not bind as well universally with other listeners.

    A side note for real fans of this band; the tracks on this album when played live I can only imagine will be another phenomenal experience as they are touring in the next few months in the UK....    … Expand
  6. trperdigao
    Oct 1, 2015
    8
    After 'Settle', the expectations were on the roof for the Lawrence brothers to create another brilliant and groundbreaking album... 'Caracal' doesn't quite meet that expectations, because lets face it, Disclosures debut album was a beautiful masterpiece!!
    Having said that, I still have enjoyed tremendously listening to this new album! The brothers do a great job playing to the guests    After 'Settle', the expectations were on the roof for the Lawrence brothers to create another brilliant and groundbreaking album... 'Caracal' doesn't quite meet that expectations, because lets face it, Disclosures debut album was a beautiful masterpiece!!
    Having said that, I still have enjoyed tremendously listening to this new album! The brothers do a great job playing to the guests strengths, showing off the prowess and understated brilliance of Kwabs, Lorde and Miguel, and introduce the big audiences to newcomers LION BABE and Nao.
    The biggest stars Sam Smith and The Weeknd don't amaze me particularly, but their songs will step right into all the Tops and take Disclosure to broader audiences.

    To conclude: Caracal falls far from Settle, but still plays to my heart!
    7.5/10    … Expand
  7. Isaac_P
    Oct 29, 2015
    9
    To be honest Caracal seems to be the better album. After listening to both this and Settle, I find that they're almost equal in originality, sound quality, and overall grandness. I have no complaints really and I find this to be a must buy
    9/10 Amazing
  8. tylerlavoie
    Sep 25, 2015
    9
    It's not Settle. You're not going to get the killer basslines or disoriented samples of "Voices" or "Stimulation", or even the CVS-ready pop hit "Latch". At first listen, it might seem a little dull - the synth wubs all sound the same, the hit hats always have the same danceable shuffle, and it seems like whatever chord patch they're using builds up exactly the same way before the drop.It's not Settle. You're not going to get the killer basslines or disoriented samples of "Voices" or "Stimulation", or even the CVS-ready pop hit "Latch". At first listen, it might seem a little dull - the synth wubs all sound the same, the hit hats always have the same danceable shuffle, and it seems like whatever chord patch they're using builds up exactly the same way before the drop.

    But listen again. And read their interviews. Because Disclosure have taken themselves in a different direction here: they're less about creating dance hits and more about the brilliant songwriters they've featured. And the songwriting is there - from the chilled out brilliance of "Willing & Able" to the undeniably catchy "Magnets", just because the tempo dropped doesn't mean the record is any less eye-catching. At least, not if you go in with the right expectations.

    Disclosure have been clear about what this album means for their evolution. And sure, the song structures might get a little repetitive, and maybe "Omen" didn't catch on the way everyone hoped it would. Nevertheless, there are quality ideas here. Before you knock the lack of club anthems and house hits, relisten. There's passion in every voice. It's all about the songwriting.    … Expand
  9. erickarturo
    Oct 27, 2015
    10
    if Caracal outside Disclosure debut album had risen sure the rate of criticism. Good lyrics, good beats, good bass etc,What is wrong with the album??, caracal is not settle understand once!, Caracal was an album of experimentation and evolution, the next album will be as good as settle, or maybe better!
    the humble opinion of a fanboy
  10. diegonelli
    Sep 25, 2015
    7
    I liked most of the songs and the collaborations are hella fantastic!!! But some songs like masterpiece or the songs without collab are kind of bored.. anyways this is fantastic and PS I'm in love with magnets!! Lorde is back :D
  11. ahern1204
    Oct 6, 2015
    8
    What makes Caracal a disappointment is that you see the Lawrence brothers being out shined 50% of the time by their guest vocalists. Most apparent is on Magnets: an excellent track on its own but the production is messy and clunky while Lorde carries this song from being a complete disaster. While I do not expect a central theme from electronic acts, I do expect for there to be an overallWhat makes Caracal a disappointment is that you see the Lawrence brothers being out shined 50% of the time by their guest vocalists. Most apparent is on Magnets: an excellent track on its own but the production is messy and clunky while Lorde carries this song from being a complete disaster. While I do not expect a central theme from electronic acts, I do expect for there to be an overall sound that the Lawrence brothers are attempting to experiment with. There is a multitude of house and garage beats on Caracal and while that may not be a negative quality, it is clear that Disclosure were not sure in what direction they wanted to go with their sound. Instead, we got Disclosure trying to create a Latch 2.0 (a quality pop hit on the Hot 100) which explains the all-star guest appearances.

    There is nothing wrong with seeking hit singles but at least make a cohesive record so that you don’t seem so desperate to capture that success once more. This is what makes Caracal a disappointment in comparison to their debut. BUT that does not mean that Caracal is a bad record. It is quite the opposite – the pop tunes that Disclosure releases is excellent pop music and can potentially bring a fresh sound onto the Hot 100. I say potentially because quality pop rarely does well onto the Hot 100 (See Carly Rae Jepsen’s EMOTION – Run Away with Me). At its best, Caracal is a collection of quality pop music rather than an overall cohesive piece of music. It will sell less than 100K total and will become a lost gem in the pop music industry. It’s a shame but just because something makes no impact in a huge and broken industry that does not mean that is isn’t worth your listen.
    Best Songs: Magnets, Jaded & Superego
    Worst Song: Moving Mountains (but that is on the deluxe version)
    8.4/10    … Expand
  12. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    7
    7.5
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  13. Mad-Hatter
    Sep 29, 2015
    6
    It is good, but not for everyone. Some songs are just boring and another songs you can like to hear but not in any moment. Well, it's just regular for me, but I have to say that Magnets is too catchy, it's one of the best songs of the album.
  14. Gaston44
    Dec 6, 2015
    6
    A marked, poppy departure from their deep house sound on their first record Settle. The album is turned down tempo wise to make the way for R&B style songs with a guest singer on almost every track. Highlights include Echoes and Bang That, the latter being a simple but effective live set favorite.
  15. nirvanafreak
    Oct 3, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Favourite Songs: Jaded, Holding On (feat. Gregory Porter), Omen (feat. Sam Smith), Willing & Able (feat. Kwabs), Nocturnal (feat. The Weeknd), Hourglass (feat. Lion Babe)
    Least Favourite Songs: Magnets (feat. Lorde), Masterpiece (feat. Jordan Rakei)
    This album is nowhere near as good as 'Settle' because they've changed up their sound, the sound that gained them so many followers and so much attention. They've moved away from the deep house/pop, that they themselves helped push into the mainstream, to...this. An album full of good vocals (because the vocalists are good anyway) but plain choruses and predictable song structures. Appearances from Lorde and Miguel- among others- don't really live up to their hype at all, they're just completely unmemorable. Because I love 'Settle' so much I think I've almost forced myself to enjoy this but really it has no stain power; in a month or so I probably won't remember any of it. Despite this, there are a few great tracks like 'Jaded' and 'Holding On' which could fit on the last album pretty comfortably. 'Holding On' is definitely a house hit and it's just asking to get played on the radio. I liked 'Omen' as well but that might just be because Sam Smith looked pretty sexy in the video unlike usual when he looks like some kind of weird chavy owl. But Yh it wasn't bad it was just super mediocre every song (quality wise) is like a B-Side for songs off of 'Settle'.
    Will I Return To It?: Probably not
    Better or Worse Than Last Album?: Worse
    Try This If You Like: Between II Worlds by Nero (Another dissapointing sophomore effort!)    … Expand
  16. Evic21
    Oct 1, 2015
    6
    They have so much potential to push the boudries and but they alwys fail to impress. They do have some good songs on this album and some great voices singing for them, but the redundency of the production is underwhelming. It doesn't make a very big statement and it is extreamly repetitive.
  17. Antoniovoxo
    Dec 17, 2015
    10
    Definitely the best album 2015.One of the best albums ive heard in awhile. From beginning I found myself enjoying every song. Well put together piece. I'd put it up there with the channel orange and 21 by Adele. It was that good. Just brilliant.
  18. Blanche
    Jun 25, 2016
    7
    I can't really comment on Disclosure's previous album given that I haven't listened to it but I decided to pick this record up months ago because I liked some of the singles they released prior to the actual album release.

    This album is essentially a pot of reverb masking electronic house tracks in different ways. It's good, there are tracks which are compelling and showcase    I can't really comment on Disclosure's previous album given that I haven't listened to it but I decided to pick this record up months ago because I liked some of the singles they released prior to the actual album release.

    This album is essentially a pot of reverb masking electronic house tracks in different ways. It's good, there are tracks which are compelling and showcase Disclosure's ability to tamper their sound rhythmically and sometimes in the sound design area. Tracks like Jaded (great track by the way) fuelled by Howard's vocals himself, Holding On with Gregory Porter and Nocturnal with The Weeknd are pumping, catchy and soothing in different ways. Superego with Nao is one of the best tracks here for me, a very obnoxiously good syncopated beat flowing through the track in a non-repetitive way. Echoes and Molecules were good instrumental tracks that kept the flow going. Lorde on Magnets was quite nice too as it shared that rhythmic characteristic in a different way and her vocals most definitely lifted that piece, but I didn't think the track was great.

    This is where is starts. This album wasn't amazing for me. Although I commented on how the tracks were different, they didn't differ that much. The melodies blended a bit too much for me and it became noticeable that some of the chord progressions here are very similar. There were some forgettable tracks, particularly the one with Miguel where the instrumentation was stagnant and didn't protrude to anything worthwhile that was distinguishable from the rest of the record. A filler track if you like. Hourglass didn't do much for me either. Build-ups and outros started to get repetitive and formulaic across the board.

    It felt like the record was too boxed in at times. Not enough exploration outside of rhythm and emphasis on reverb. But it's a theme and it is successful - most of the time. Jaded, Echoes and Superego are my favourite tracks on this one. Worst one is easily Good Intentions.

    All in all, a good album. Will listen to every now and then.    … Expand
  19. BlogCritic123
    Jul 6, 2016
    9
    Overall this album is a great. Lots of awesome electronic pop tunes and awesome vocalists.
    My only issue is that the songs sound very similar and towards the end of the album ( I own the deluxe version ) it does run a little long. But overall it's a really good album.
  20. estebandaza15
    Sep 3, 2020
    10
    it's like magic when you listen to this amazing album and it's an album you won't forget easily
  21. stanley834
    Apr 19, 2017
    9
    Not only they have maintained their upbeat sound, but also they have experimented other genres such as R&B to create mindblowing slow jams, collaborating with emerging artists to look forward to in the future.
  22. DonldTrump_45Th
    Jan 26, 2023
    10
    Hello, this is a default review because i'm forced to use 75 characters. I'll edit this review in the future talking about the game, don't worry ;)

    My final rate is: 10
  23. mvdezz
    Jul 16, 2023
    10
    Extremely high production quality with really laid back, sunny dance tracks with lots of synths. Absolutely one of the best albums ever of any artist if you ask me.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Most Discussed Album of 2015
56
#56 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Nov 23, 2015
    80
    Caracal is about Disclosure maturing, moving on and showing the listener how to rave respectably. This is dance music for grown-ups.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    Oct 20, 2015
    70
    Caracal offers the same slick production value and luxury grooves that made Settle a crossover phenomenon, so even if you don’t find yourself enamored with the more narrow direction Disclosure have taken their finely crafted sound, you still might find yourself dancing along.
    Read full review
  3. Consequence
    Oct 1, 2015
    67
    Disclosure has found the perfect center of the Venn diagram of house music and mainstream pop. This is music you can play at the club and play for your mom; it won’t take you anywhere you haven’t been before, but damn if you won’t have fun getting there anyway.
    Read full review
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