British house-pop princes Disclosure have a new album on the horizon — sophomore effort Caracal is due out September 25th — and their latest single features the vocal work of an old friend. "Omen" is a moody, by-the-numbers piece of club fare elevated by the presence of Sam Smith, your mom's favorite maudlin crooner, and it marks the third time Smith and Disclosure have collaborated. Both parties have been teasing the single's release for a while, and it was formally announced a few weeks ago. "Omen" is the second official single from Caracal, following in the steps of jaunty garage cut "Holding On." Its video is the second in a series of four that tell the story of a near-future rebel named Mariella.
Smith and Disclosure's work together a few years ago ended up launching the careers of everyone involved. When "Latch" was released in October 2012, Smith had yet to release any solo music, and Disclosure was best known for their percolating instrumental work. As the song crept up charts around the world — the UK in 2013, the US a year later — its creators began to achieve phenomenal success. Disclosure ignited an emotive dance-pop renaissance and inspired a legion of contemporaries, and their debut Settle was feted as one of 2013's best albums. Smith became an international solo star — one often called "the male Adele" given his meteoric rise and powerful pipes — and earned six Grammy nods for his own debut, 2014's In the Lonely Hour.
This is Disclosure's best chance at a hit from Caracal
"Omen" isn't their first piece of work together since "Latch": Disclosure and Smith came together with writer / producer Jimmy Napes and Chic legend Nile Rodgers for "Together," a minor piece of yacht-funk, in late 2013. But given Smith's new prominence and the anemic chart performance of "Holding On," it's probably Disclosure's best chance at spinning a hit from Caracal. Keep one eye on the video and another on the Hot 100.