Disclosure - Alchemy

Disclosure - aka brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence - are artisans of liberation. A typical track from the pair captures the dewy exhaustion that comes with clubby festival ecstasy, blending deep house with UK garage, trance and radio-friendly pop - and a collaborative nature that has seen them make use of a string of about-to-break vocalists at precisely the right moment. But on fourth record ‘Alchemy’, things fizz up a bit. Following a departure from their major record label, a marriage, a moving of half the duo to LA, a heartbreak and a 150-day tour, there’s catharsis to be had. To extricate themselves, the pair reclaim creative control: ‘Alchemy’ has no features, no samples, and utilises only their own voices and superb, tropical, warpy production - reiterating an eclectic love for house that made them their name. Largely, it’s perfect party music - as if they’ve set up decks in a back garden at dusk in summer - and leans further into the undeniably attractive pop that forged their names in the fire. Occasionally the presence of a recognisable voice or two wouldn’t go amiss, yet regardless, its standouts (the buzzy ‘Simply Won’t Do’, playful, bubbling ‘Go the Distance’ and immensely poppy ‘Talk On The Phone’) prove the brothers can stand on their own feet to keep up the pace. In search of freedom, Disclosure craft it themselves: ‘Alchemy’ is a lush cacophony of future house, which reacts with pop like Mentos in Coca-Cola. Although the British summer is a mixed bag of rain and more rain, ‘Alchemy’ could convince anyone there’s sun outside.