Album review: Disclosure’s Caracal is a special kind of bland

Caracal by Disclosure. Courtesy PMR / Island

Disclosure

Caracal

(PMR/Island)

Two stars

It takes a special kind of bland to neuter filthy voice-of-the-moment The Weeknd, but that’s exactly what happens during the opening track of this second album from the English siblings Disclosure.

The song in question, Nocturnal, is about as stimulating as a night-time snooze. It sets the mood for the ensuing 45 minutes, with an array of guest mouthpieces made to sound at least 50 per cent duller than they would under their own steam.

Sam Smith, who voiced Disclosure's previous hit Latch, is back for more on Omen, but it's got none of the charisma of his previous solo highlights.

Lorde phones in the discarded B-side-esque vocal for Magnets. Only the R&B star Miguel smoulders through on Good Intentions, given a fittingly liquid, finger-snap-­embellished soundtrack – and even that drags on a bit.

Caracal will probably surf off Disclosure's ­present wave of success, but cripes, when did ­modern dance music get this tedious?