The Daily Spin II
Disclosure | Settle
Welcome back to the Daily Spin. For the uninitiated, this is the series in which I review an album every day of 2025.
As was the case two years ago, my favorite song from each album can be found at the playlist linked here.
Album: Settle (2013)
Artist: Disclosure
Link:
Fusing pop music into a delightful blend of early-teens dubstep, garage, and house music, Disclosure were one of those gateway groups for a lot of people - at least, that’s how it appeared to me. A friendlier version of some of the ‘fringe’ sounds that began to appear, made more palatable by immensely catchy vocals courtesy of stars like Sam Smith and Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge, Settle was one of the first albums that really seemed to push those boundaries and give people raveable, accessible electronica.
That said - some of their best material off this album is when they avoid those collaborations - not because they’re bad, not by any means, but the pure exhilaration visible in the instrumentals is enough to drive a man crazy. The way I involuntarily start to dance to some of these songs is a phenomenon that should be studied - it’s an unnaturally well-attuned precision to the beats that makes these songs so immensely groovable, most apparent when there’s nothing in the way.
It’s very much my kind of music - a grab bag of electronica, mashed up into a beautiful soup. Each spoonful is a little different, with enough of a grounding identity to never leave a bad taste in your mouth. Gorgeous.
Rating: 9/10
Best Tracks: When A Fire Starts To Burn, F For You
Worst Tracks: Second Chance