New album from Eli Escobar! The thirst is real (check the ‘Cogs real quick) for the homie’s debut, Up All Night, and Happiness will certainly follow suit, perhaps even surpass the success that his 2014 effort was and continues to be. On a recent chat with Lab’s own Zephyr Ann, Escobar said: “the process was kind of the same as the last time, trying to throw all my influences into one pot and seeing what happens.” What does that mean? Tunes informed by early house, golden-era disco, and a righteous mix of the two genres fill up the 10-tracker. Frequent collaborator and NY/Lab favorite Nomi Ruiz lends vocals for some key moments of the album: “Phreeky,” an early single (also featuring legendary vocalist Vanessa Daou) heating up dancefloors, and “Can’t Stop Dancing,” an infectious track telling of the artists’ chemistry. The two conjure up more magic on “In The Dark,” a jazzy, loose, low-slung house number, and the beautiful, stripped-down closer “4 Luv” also enlists help from Ruiz to satisfying results. The “raw Chicago workout” entitled “Chaka Khan” also stands out, and don't sleep on the uplifting title track or the blue-er “Miss My Luv.” “Winter’s Anthem" is also good on that super hypnotic tip, by the way (yes, we realize that’s pretty much the whole album). Highly recommended!

• double vinyl LP
• second album from NY dj/producer
• music label: Classic 2016

reviewed by donut savage 08/2016