Disclosure feat. Sam Smith: “Latch”

Emerging on the UK dance scene as teenagers with their first single in 2010, Disclosure’s rise to international recognition stands as a testament to the boundless potential dance music provides for those with the talent and drive to establish themselves within the scene. Blurring the already loose genre distinctions that fall under the umbrella of “dance music,” their unique blend of deep house, post-dubstep, and R&B provides a sound versatile enough for the dancefloor as well as the living room stereo. Coming off the heels of their venerated first EP, The Face, “Latch” is the first taste of what we can expect from their debut album due out in early 2013.

In many ways, “Latch” is a culmination of the sonic experiments that characterized their earliest material. A bouncy four-on-the-floor drumbeat chugs along while a recognizable yet subdued dubstep-style bass stabs through the melody. Their integration of simmering synth chords underneath Sam Smith’s echoing vocals combine the stereotypical deep house vibe with a ’90s R&B vocal arrangement to achieve the sexy aesthetic of the song’s story. With lines like “got you shackled in my embrace / I’m latching onto you,” Sam Smith’s smooth tone is the perfect compliment to the duo’s sensual vibe.

After stumbling upon their earlier track, “Flow,” months ago and digging up their first few releases, they’ve quickly become one of my favorite new dance acts. Their unique style of “borrowing” the most effective elements of a variety of dance genres is a refreshing example of what makes dance music unique among other genres of contemporary music. Unlike the increasingly homogenized sound we have come to expect from mainstream DJ/producers, Disclosure has utilized the flexibility of dance music to stretch their arms creatively and provide fans with fresh, inventive music.