Disclosure
“When A Fire Starts to Burn”
Settle (out 06/04 on PMR)
In the next few hours, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence are going to be unleashing their disgustingly fresh debut LP on the masses. In celebration of Settle, we are going to devote all the Hot Jams of the Day this week to the diverse, devastating LP. After a number of listens over the last week, I am convinced that this is not only the best album I’ve heard this year, but it also has the potential to be better than anything I’ve heard in the last couple.
Let’s start “Disclosure Week” off right, with its explosive lead track. Riding a sample that is reminiscent of a minister or motivational speaker (possibly from inspirational speaker and ex-NFL football player, Eric Thomas), “When a Fire Starts to Burn” harkens back to the Brothers’ roots in house music.
The repetitive sample is kept fresh by an undulating, wonky deep synth line and stays on-track via an unrelenting backbeat. The song’s magic comes from the way that Guy and Howard continue to deftly add new ingredients to the mix without losing its mantric quality. More than anything, it’s just an absolute banger, and you can almost feel the track’s sweat dripping as it builds and swells.
As quickly as it catches fire, it burns out — leaving the listener scrambling to start the track over. It’s a direct, satisfying start to the album that offers very few clues into the melodic, sonic, and emotional depth Settle contains. This one is already burning up dance-floors in the UK and Europe, and should be doing the same in the States.
