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. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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.
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  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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