Mixmag were quick to feature Shook in their Keep An Eye On section and remix requests flooded in from Ellie Goulding to Phoenix to Penguin Prison to MIA. ‘The Rise & Fall EP’ finds Shook in a transitional mode, as the sound of ‘The Glow’ has been refined and honed into something more mature, dramatic and powerful.
Opening track ‘Through The Fire’ sets the scene with a stadium rock-esque intro giving way to an assured mid tempo groover with a keen sense of drama and tension. ‘Hold Tight’ is the EP’s love letter to the 80s boogie sound reflected in Shook’s music. It’s a funky, filtered work out building to a crescendo of Rhodes chords and clavi solos. ‘Rise & Fall’ continues with a tough 80s funk sound, while Shook runs wild on the keys. ‘She’s Waiting’ is a carefree jam based around a catchy keyboard hook and vocal snippet, showcasing a softer side of Shook. ‘Picture Moment’ rounds off the EP, all finger snaps and heartfelt keys, a sensitive, expansive ballad.
In the contemporary musical landscape between the nu-boogie scene headed up by artists such as Dam Funk, and the French house disciples such as Breakbot, Shook is a single-minded artist carving out a niche all of his own.