Alchemy (Disclosure album)

Alchemy is the fourth studio album by British music duo Disclosure. It was released on 14 July 2023 through Apollo and AWAL. it is the duo's first album in nearly 3 years since Energy (2020).

Alchemy
Studio album by
Disclosure
Released14 July 2023 (2023-07-14)
Length37:37
Label
Producer
Disclosure chronology
Energy
(2020)		 Alchemy
(2023)

Background

In 2022, Howard Lawrence started working on the album in Los Angeles with collaborators Max Margolis and DonnyBravo. He would send concepts and demos over to his brother Guy Lawrence, who was still in London at the time.[1] In a press release, Guy noted that the album is a "celebration of us feeling liberated" and cited creative freedom as one of the cornerstones during the process, following their departure from a major record label. Howard added that the time during which the record was conceived was a "combination of deep heartbreak and sadness, but also deep admiration and appreciation", since Guy got previously married and settled in Los Angeles, while Howard stayed in London, feeling exhausted after a heartbreak and a 150-date tour.[2]

The album marks the first project to not include any guest appearances or samples. Instead, the album focused on Howard's "pop songcraft", using his own lyrics and vocals, while Guy takes on "everything from jungle breaks and trance-like supersaw synth riffs to rapid tempo four-to-the-floor club tracks" production-wise.[3] The duo described the sound as going "back to basics".[4] On 12 July, they announced the record, along with revealing the album cover and tracklist.[5] Arriving shortly after the 10-year anniversary of their debut album Settle,[6] Alchemy is set to be their first album to be released independently via their AWAL imprint, Apollo Records.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Line of Best Fit7/10[8]
NME[9]
Pitchfork7.4/10[10]

Philip Sherburne of Pitchfork called it "fresher and more fun than the brothers have sounded in ages" and thought that it is "clearly meant as a reboot, repositioning them as dance artists who happen to make hits, rather than chart aspirants dabbling in club tropes". Sherburne concluded that "it sounds like they're listening to what's happening in clubland and asking themselves not what they can poach for the charts, but what they can bring to the table".[8] David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit described the album as "a story in two parts, each showcasing the two sides to the duality of Disclosure" and summarised that "with this album they bring those two sides to one party, and while it's not their masterpiece, it's still a great record".[8]

Track listing
Alchemy track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Looking for Love"
4:50
2."Simply Won't Do"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
  • Margolis
  • Philp
3:26
3."Higher Than Ever Before"
3:16
4."A Little Bit"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
  • Margolis
  • Philp
3:29
5."Go the Distance"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
  • Margolis
  • Philp
4:16
6."Someday..."
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
0:45
7."We Were in Love"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
5:00
8."Sun Showers"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
4:34
9."Purify"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
2:04
10."Brown Eyes"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
  • Margolis
  • Philp
2:31
11."Talk on the Phone"
  • G. Lawrence
  • H. Lawrence
  • Robin Lawrence
  • Margolis
  • Philp
3:26
Total length:37:37

Personnel

Disclosure

Additional contributors

  • DonnyBravo – production (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11)
  • Max Margolis – production (1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11)
  • Cirkut – production (3)
  • Matt Colton – mastering

Charts
Chart performance for Alchemy
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[11] 12
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[12] 1
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[13] 15

References
  1. Fu, Eddie (12 July 2023). "Disclosure Announce New Album Alchemy Dropping on Friday". Consequence. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. Bain, Katie (12 July 2023). "Disclosure to Release New Album This Week". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  3. Deville, Chris (12 July 2023). "New Disclosure Album Alchemy, Out This Friday, Has No Features And No Samples". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  4. Hinton, Patrick (12 July 2023). "Disclosure are releasing new album 'Alchemy' this week". Mixmag. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  5. Duran, Anagricel (12 July 2023). "Disclosure announce new album 'Alchemy' out this week". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  6. Lejarde, Arielle Lana (12 July 2023). "Disclosure to release new album Alchemy this Friday". The Fader. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  7. Minsker, Evans (12 July 2023). "Disclosure Announce New Album Out This Week". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. Cobbald, David (14 July 2023). "Disclosure: Alchemy review: go at it alone". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  9. Jolley, Ben (20 July 2023). "Disclosure – 'Alchemy' review: the brothers go back-to-basics". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. Sherburne, Philip (18 July 2023). "Disclosure: Alchemy Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  11. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  12. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  13. "Disclosure Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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