English electronic duo Disclosure (composed of brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence) attempt to recreate the success of their first album with Caracal, a sophomore record full of A-list guests and a more refined sound.

Lead single, “Magnets”, featuring Lorde, is a prime example of Disclosure’s musical revival on Caracal. A light, tapping drum beat opens the track, soon followed by smooth, flowing synthesizers that blend well with Lorde’s unique vocal style. “Uh-oh, dancing past the point of no return/Let go, we can free ourselves of all we’ve learned” Lorde sings confidently as the beat reaches its maximum swell and the listener becomes fully entranced in the song. “Magnets” is probably the prime lyrical cut off the record, with uncomplicated, clever musings that are repeated just enough to get stuck in your head but not enough to annoy you.

A track that will surely be underrated, but is excellent nonetheless, is “Moving Mountains”, a Deluxe Edition track that contains an uncredited vocal contribution by Brendan Reilly. “Mountains” is an effortless tune that starts out subtle enough. However, the chorus sneaks up on you, delivering an instantly soulful and emotion-filled hook.

Another album highlight is “Afterthought”, a more upbeat – and almost disco-reminiscent – track that’s better in the verses than in the chorus. Despite occasionally sounding underproduced, “Afterthought” still has a fun retro appeal that should please many fans of Disclosure’s earlier work.

“Nocturnal”, Disclosure’s hotly-anticipated collaboration with The Weeknd, underwhelms somewhat. The lyrics aren’t what they could be coming from The Weeknd, and the production is good – not revolutionary. However, The Weeknd’s voice brings an aesthetic that could make any song highly listenable, and this is what truly shines on “Nocturnal”.

With all things considered, Caracal is a solid record from Disclosure. It marks an evolution in sound from their previous release, certainly for the better. Caracal is more comfortable and refined than its predecessor, and boasts several high-profile collaborations. However, with the exception of “Magnets”, the best songs to be found on the record come from the lesser-known collaborators – and not the A-list stars.