With two stunning LPs, Up All Night and Happiness, already under his belt, Eli Escobar releases his 3rd full-length, Shout. The 13-tracker once again affirms his "New York house & disco evangelist" designation, and the album will surely satisfy the body, mind, and soul of his faithful fan base, all the while attracting new converts thirsty and open for the quintessential NYC DJ "yesterday's golden era classics"-meets-"today's club anthems" production style. Shout opens with "Nightmare Rag, a punchy, piano-riff-driven number that's built around a disgruntled vocal sample ("ode to America!"), and the "wft is going on in America" tone continues on "Interlude (American Sorrow)," a lower-bpm chugger characterized by the lamenting saxophone work. "The People" follows with hypnotic chords and elegantly placed vocal samples, and like "City Song part 2" and "Body And Soul" lean toward the disco spectrum. "Handz Up," reminiscent of "Chaka Khan" from Happiness, is perhaps the most energetic track on Shout, and it's sure to be a dancefloor scorcher, while the closer "Goin' On" ties the entire LP together with its warm, soulful, & hopeful demeanor. Highly recommended and big ups to Eli for another brilliant body of work.

• music label: Classic 2017

reviewed by manono rose 11/2017