Commercially, the album was a success, reaching the top of the record charts in Australia, Scotland, and the United Kingdom and being certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the latter region.

[4] Slant Magazine editor Sal Cinquemani predicted that "Golden further bolsters Minogue's reputation for taking risks—and artfully sets the stage for her inevitable disco comeback.

[8] "That section [on Golden Tour] was the home stretch, when you're digging deep, the adrenalin's taking over and the finish line's in sight each night [...] I absolutely loved it and, suddenly, I just knew I wanted to spend more time there.

"[9] Development began in London in the autumn of 2019 and continued into 2020; she initially worked with Ash Howes, Jon Green, and long-time collaborator Richard "Biff" Stannard early in the production process.

[16] Minogue co-wrote all of the songs on the album, and she received additional vocal engineering credits on almost every track except "Magic", which was done by Alex Robinson.

[12] She also reflected on the genre's power and sentiments during difficult times like the lockdown, saying, "some of the best disco songs are mission statements of strength.

Regarding its songwriting, The Guardian editor Michael Cragg wrote, "Kylie is listed as a co-writer on every track here, and while that album touched on some of her personal upheavals, Disco's lyrics mainly revolve around the push and pull of love and its myriad forms.

Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic called it a "welcome return to the club-friendly dance-pop that defined Australian diva Kylie Minogue's early 21st century rebirth", comparing it to the works of Gloria Gaynor, Chic, and Donna Summer.

[12] "Miss a Thing" is a disco-dance hybrid with lush string arrangements that Minogue felt complemented the album's sonic flow.

[12][22][26] The "retro-futuristic" sound has been compared to Minogue's albums Light Years (2000) and Fever (2001), as well as the work of French music duo Daft Punk.

[12] "Supernova" is a "energetic" disco song influenced by "celestial imagery" and intergalactic themes; it was compared to the work of German band Boney M, American drag queen RuPaul, and Daft Punk.

The standard album contains 12 tracks totalling more than 41 minutes in length, while the deluxe edition includes four additional songs: "Til' You Love Somebody", "Fine Wine", "Hey Lonely", and "Spotlight".

[12] Disco was available in a variety of physical formats through her website and retail stores; early bundles included a signed autograph from Minogue.

[16] Minogue is shown on the cover with curly blonde hair, a blue sequin dress, and a lens flare in the centre of her hands, as well as her name and album title in the top corners.

[63] Sophie Muller directed a music video at the Black Island Studios in London, England, while adhering to social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[80] Furthermore, the "Studio 2054 Remix" featuring Dua Lipa was released on December 31 and was repackaged on the Disco: Guest List Edition of the parent album.

[81] The remix featured updated production, handled by Lipa's musical director William Bowerman, as well as an extended instrumental section in the middle of the song.

[86][87] "Dance Floor Darling" was released as an airplay single and premiered on BBC Radio 2's B-List, which Minogue acknowledged on Twitter.

[72][91] Muller directed a music video for Minogue on her YouTube channel, which featured her singing the song while wearing a diamond-like catsuit.

[126] Several months later on 4 June 2021, the 'Infinite Disco' performance of "Dance Floor Darling" was re-aired as part of iHeartRadio and P&G's 'Can't Cancel Pride' livestream event.

"[21] Guido Farrell, The Music editor, referenced the themes from "I Love It" and wrote, "Minogue delivers a simple message of hope on an album that provides non-stop dancefloor kicks.

"[138] DIY editor Lisa Wright thought the material on Disco had "brightness, positivity, and joy that the singer's been preaching for 40 years now".

[30] Jeffrey Davis of PopMatters described it as a "shimmery, ethereal getaway from any which reality you choose, the album gets you dancing and forgetting, therefore achieving its purpose.

"[26] According to Richard Wiggens of God Is in the TV, Disco "provides a fresh, energetic listen that proves she is still very much part of the pop conversation.

"[139] Mathew Marson, a Beats Per Minute contributor, described the overall effort as "fine", writing, “Repeated listens, indeed, prove it to be a perfectly serviceable, enjoyable offering.

"[141] Despite praising the album's energy and production quality, CJ Thorpe-Tracey of The Quietus criticised Minogue's lack of storytelling and iconoclasm, concluding, "Why does this record not realise how important Kylie is?

"[142] Pitchfork writer Katherine St. Asaph gave a mixed review, writing, "The album, with a couple exceptions, has two modes: overly tasteful cruise-ship programming, and gauche rehashes.

Crowded House's album Dreamers Are Waiting defeated her in the former, while The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber's work in "Stay" won in the latter.

[167] The album was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) less than a month after its release, and it was later upgraded to Gold on 18 December 2020, after shipping over 100,000 units.

[171] In the United States, Disco peaked at number 26 on the Billboard 200, her third highest-charting album at the time after Fever in 2002 and Aphrodite in 2010, and was eventually surpassed by Minogue's record Tension in 2023.