Damn, Disclosure.
A night of new-age house in a smoke-filled Madison Square Garden.
I can't remember what prompted me to listen to Disclosure's debut release for the first time. Typically new music discoveries come at the suggestion of a musically well versed friend or a post on Hypetrak or even under the Related Artists column on Spotify. However, this time I think I may have stumbled upon the London based duo on my own. In late 2013 I started a new job and I was head-over heels in unrequited love with someone who introduced me to deep house music and took me to dance parties that taught me that dancing was actually about freeing your inhibitions. The more I discovered of house and dance music the more I wanted.
That's why one day when I was likely scrolling through Spotify and pressed play on Disclosure's Settle I fell in love instantly. It wasn't the ultra catchy, Sam Smith assisted "Latch" that hooked me. Instead it was the bouncy, dance track featuring Aluna George that sunk into my ears and turned my face into a heart-eye emoji.
"I know you're smart, you spin me round like a knot. You know the pieces, pieces of my heart. Sometimes it's fun, you pull my strings one by one. Until you get me, get me on to one." - "White Noise"
Ironically enough that song spoke to my then situation with precision. It became my go to. I would play it first thing in the morning on the train. First thing when I got to my desk and I sent the link to all of my friends hoping they would love it as much as I did. The sounds Guy and Lawrence create is a type of music I didn't even know I needed and wanted in my life but it's become irreplaceable for me. Their sound is a blend of house and dance. The tracks hit hard and make it impossible not to feel something even if it's just the need to move.
I found out that the duo was going on tour in late summer. I asked a friend of mine to come with and he was down to go however plans changed for him. I asked a few more friends and no one took the bait. That's how I found myself strolling into Madison Square Garden solo on a cool October Saturday night with thousands of other fans. I wasn't even phased by the fact that I was alone at a concert for the first time ever. I was more concerned with what the show would be like. I knew the guys had been packing out arenas across the globe but I didn't watch any videos before hand to avoid ruining the surprise factor.
Lion Babe graced the stage first. Jillian's hair bigger and more glorious than I'd ever seen it before and this was my third time catching the duo live. Next was DJ Claude VonStroke, I remained seated and sipped from my cup letting myself get into the mood to dance. As the laser lights streaked across the arena the more I noticed clouds of smoke. Seems everyone had decided it was time to liven the party up. I reached in my bag found a lighter and followed suit.
About 10 minutes went by between the end of Claude's set and the time the area went dark. I've been to a number of concerts but there's something magical about the uncertain moment before an artist whose music you live and breathe and lose yourself to appears on stage. I realized that this was it, I was about to experience Disclosure LIVE! I, along with pretty much everyone else in the building, screamed.
The lights went up, Guy and Howard were standing on platforms decorated with instruments facing one another in the middle of the stage - go time. The beat sunk in and I realized they were kicking off the night with my absolute favorite song, "White Noise", could I have asked for anything better? It was going to be an amazing night!
We were told that we would be experiencing both albums that evening so moving on from White Noise they got into my favorite song from the new album, Caracal, "Super Ego". The track which features the synthetically smooth voice of Nao builds so gently. Perfect way to get the crowd moving.
In my imagination I saw this evening being me in my own little world dancing along to songs that I've loved for nearly two years now. I hadn't prepared myself for how much I would lose my mind being surrounded by so many other people who genuinely love Disclosure's music.
"This is Madison Square Garden, so we figured it was only right that we brought a few guests," Guy announced. The beat to "You & Me" from the debut album kicked in and Eliza Doolittle took the stage and I was floored to find that her voice sounded as incredible as the recording as she sauntered the length of the stage.
As each track came I felt it personally. Bouncing back and forth between cuts from Settle and Caracal made the night feel like a party DJ'd by and solely featuring the music of Disclosure. Though my feet were throbbing from my mistake of breaking in a new pair of heels that night I didn't dare sit down. I couldn't sit down.
Hips swaying, arms flailing, hair tossing - no wonder the girl next to me swapped seats with her boyfriend who was just as enthusiastic as me.
After being blessed with another guest appearance by Kwabs who performed the subtle love ballad "Wiling & Able" a steady baseline kicked in. Hourglass. Jillian of Lion Babe appeared in a gold sequin dress and thigh high boots and I turned to the guy next to me.
"She's gonna kill this shit, man she kills this song," he explained and I couldn't muster anything more than a head nod while jumping up and down.
Jillian eased into the seductive track but by the time she reached the hook the energy took over and she bounced around just as much as the crowd. Everyone was in a euphoric bubble that couldn't be broken.
Visually Disclosure's show is one of a kind. Each song accompanied by customized graphics often an animated outline or figure depicting the lead of a certain song. The images keep you mesmerized by consistently never appearing the same.
As the show came to an end, I realized that somehow an hour and a half had flown by and I was no where near ready to part ways. The guys teased us "we want to see if you know this one." A few seconds of the single that made Disclosure universal played.
"Now I've got you in my space, I won't let go of you"
"Never," the crowd chanted back.
"Latch" closed out one of the best night's I'd experienced in a long time. And though I carry a sort of snobbery towards the song because I'd been in love with Disclosure long before people started beginning conversations with "oh my God, have you heard this song?" I screamed every word and jumped around with my new found friend because there was absolutely nothing else I would have rather been doing in that moment.
Damn, Disclosure. Thank you.
