Escort: Animal Nature review – nifty production and brassy abandon

(Escort Records)

The seeds of a glorious party soundtrack are contained in the second album by New York’s disco troupe Escort. They have a fine live reputation and the brassy abandon of closer Dancer, recorded during a recent show, conveys the sweaty joy of encountering their 15-piece orchestra in person. Inevitably, some of the studio tracks suffer by comparison; you can imagine Barbarians as an irresistible call to arms in a Brooklyn basement, but it falls a little flat here. But there’s nifty production work elsewhere – the Hall & Oates-indebted If You Say So especially – and even the weaker moments act as a powerful enticement to catch them live.

Contributor

Ally Carnwath

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Escort: Animal Nature review – disco classicism from 15-piece New York behemoth
This Brooklyn-based disco orchestra take in most of the genre’s key ideas, but never reach a state of totally wild abandon

Jon Dennis

29, Oct, 2015 @9:15 PM

Article image
Sault: Aiir, Earth, Today & Tomorrow, Untitled (God), 11 review – an act of supreme generosity
The esteemed collective release five dazzlingly eclectic albums, melding rap, post-punk and modern classical composition

Damien Morris

13, Nov, 2022 @1:00 PM

Article image
Róisín Murphy review – a triumphant dancefloor workout
At once introspective and deeply theatrical, Murphy’s tough, savvy dance music proves irresistible – not least to the singer herself

Kitty Empire

25, Sep, 2021 @1:00 PM

Article image
Girl Ray: Prestige review – full strutting disco fun
The north Londoners kick loose on their playful third album of sumptuous dancefloor synth-pop

Tara Joshi

06, Aug, 2023 @12:00 PM

Article image
Tame Impala: The Slow Rush review – polished disco funk
Kevin Parker shifts further away from his psych rock roots, while pondering happiness and his continued relevance

Kitty Empire

15, Feb, 2020 @2:00 PM

Article image
Toro y Moi: Mahal review – gently seductive but frustratingly half-baked
The seventh album from chillwave’s leading light soars with psychedelic meshes, but is too uneven to cherish

Phil Mongredien

01, May, 2022 @2:00 PM

Article image
Ibibio Sound Machine: Electricity review – vibrant Afro funk hits the heights
(Merge Records)
The London band’s kaleidoscopic new album crosses genres and skips past musical borders

Kadish Morris

27, Mar, 2022 @12:00 PM

Jungle review – self-titled slice of accomplished search-engine-unfriendly disco-funk
Nothing to do with the genre of the same name, this west London specialise in smooth disco-funk, writes Kitty Empire

Kitty Empire

12, Jul, 2014 @11:05 PM

Article image
Jungle: Volcano review – slick, safe and ripe for radio play
This confident but formulaic fourth outing from the UK dance duo mixes 70s funk breakbeats, wistful guitar soul and euphoric disco

Ammar Kalia

13, Aug, 2023 @12:00 PM

Article image
NZCA Lines: Pure Luxury review – dancefloor first-aid for dystopian times
Indie-disco’s cool operator serves up a rueful platter of euphoric opulence

Kitty Empire

05, Jul, 2020 @8:00 AM