Every track of Disclosure’s debut Settle has gone through the wringer since its release in one shape or form. And for an album that’s essentially a dance music classic at this point in time, many artists feel it’s necessary to continue rehashing it; seriously, if anyone thinks the world needs another remix of “Latch,” they’re more than likely wrong. With that said, however, much of Settle got overlooked a little more than the rest. For every 10 remixes for “When a Fire Starts to Burn,” there only seemed to be one – maybe two – for tracks like “Stimulation” or “January.”
At the end of Settle is the gemstone “Help Me Lose My Mind.” The track, featuring the fantastic London Grammar on board for collaboration, has had a couple notable remixes in the past most specifically a very stunning rework by remix master Paul Woolford. But for its woozy, almost sleepy demeanor and sensuous headiness, “Help Me Lose My Mind” is definitely in the realm of fan favorites instead of straightforward radio material which is why most people must gravitate to Sam Smith’s collab instead on first listen (the sinister “Latch”). This is an atrocity as “Help Me Lose My Mind” is arguably the bridge between Settle and their recent LP Caracal: slow, genre blending arcs and atmospheric tension is the key and Disclosure opens many doors with it.
While it’s by no means a new release, Cloudchord‘s refix of Disclosure’s album closer is more relevant than ever. Featuring a light tropical pop and nudisco flair during the bridges and verses, the chorus churns emotional, balancing sawing synths and heart-pounding crescendos into a territory that drives Disclosure to the edge of orchestrated beauty. This remix is relevant in its insistence to rediscover the sharpness of a track’s blade which has become dull over constant exposure; a trait of dance music which has always existed, but has become more prominent as tastes become more sophisticated while the EDM machine begins to wane and niche genres pick up in popularity (tech house, deep house, Detroit techno, etc.). But like the timelessness of the original, the timelessness of niche genre, the timelessness of emotion, Cloudchord as a producer expresses an interest in the timelessness of beating to his own drum – something both he, and Disclosure, have in common which is why, after over two years, we can still have this conversation and be ensnared by it.
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