BOO WILLIAMS Vinilo y CD

Review: Boo Williams is considered a 'second generation' house musician from Chicago, one of few who followed in the footsteps of the likes of Larry Heard and Lil Louis - it's as though house music were some kind of Socratic tradition. Whatever the case, his distinctive visage forms the branding basis for his own label Boo Moonman, which has been going for ages. This limited, hand-stamped 12" is yet another addition to the pile, dealing once more in his distinctive, gluey style of analogue jam.

Review: It's another family affair over at New York City's Razor N Tape label. For this edition, they have tapped the ever reliable Israeli indie-dance heroes Red Axes for a euphoric rendition of Nenor's 'Do You Remember' (feat Jenny Penkin) making for proper Balearic vibes, while the one-and-only Boo Williams delivers another ultra-deep house journey in the form of 'Besty Smith'. Over on the flip, we see the return of New Zealand-based producer Frank Booker who hands in the late night mood music of 'Time Won't Tell' followed by Peter Matson with a slinky and neon-lit rework of label chief JKriv's 'Something Else'.

Review: A tricksters' release - in that it's almost certainly one of those that cleverly aims to look like an old late 80s house cut, but isn't - Boo Williams' newest deep house LP 'Depths Of Life' is a subtly head-swanging swayer through leagues of tunes that defy anxiety. One can almost be guaranteed an easy ride through this album thanks to its emphasis on vibe rathe than posey complexity. Echoic laughter, sonic reflections and delayed acid lines all pepper its omnipresent, rubbery basses, with baseball organs ('Creepy') and trance tropes ('One Step Closer', 'Mortal Trance') cropping up aplenty.

Review: Norm Talley's Upstairs Asylum label only arrived in 2021 but is already up there with the great Motor City imprints. The boss has been busy putting together a trio of new EPs for the first half of 2023 that showcases a wealth of Mid-West talent. House hero Boo Williams kicks off this one with his typically tight drum programming and party-starting synth work on 'Tickin Clock.' Eric Johnson keeps it raw, deep and loopy on 'Melodic Gruv' then Reggie Dokes brings his signature Atlanta house sound to 'Mother's Child' with its melancholic lead sax and 'End of Time' is a broken beat bliss out.

Review: Despite a sizable, high-quality discography that stretches back to 1994, Boo Williams has never been as hyped or celebrated as many of his Chicago deep house peers. Perhaps it's time we gave him some love because the Natural Service EP - his first solo 12" on Chiwax since 2014 - is undeniably excellent. Check first opener 'Ambushed', where twinkling electronics and sumptuous pads ride jackin' drums and a brilliant bassline, before turning your attention to 'Echoes of the Dance', an acid-flecked journey through dreamy, loved-up deep house that's as picturesque as they come. Flipside 'Zone' is even more hypnotic and trance-inducing, sitting somewhere between classic deep house and the techier end of Omar-S's output.

Review: Short Attention has more than grabbed ours with its first two EPs and this third one keeps up that good early form. It's a heavy-hitting mix of pivotal house talents starting off with prolific Windy City player Boo Williams. The big man's 'Transformation' is a smooth and chord-laced house roller that has a more reflective vibe than his usual party-starting offerings. Atlanta don Kai Alce's 'Love Exists' is a heartfelt house romance then the long-time partnership of Owen Jay & Melchior Sultana douse us in star-gazing chords on 'Soul Expression' that leave you feeling refreshed. Hector Ram's 'Morning Sun Vibes' then uplifts with beautifully gentle piano chords.

Review: Given that he has been operative on the Chicago house scene since its earliest days at the dawn of the 1980s, it's perhaps unsurprising that deep house legend Boo Williams' latest EP pays tribute to the city that he calls home. Jamiel Patton lends his spoken word vocals to opener 'Chicago The Place To Be', a hybrid deep house/Afro-house affair piled high with musical details (think short, tight acid lines, woozy electric piano lines, spacey synths and so on), and companion track 'Chicago The Place', an effects-laden, early morning alternate take that's effectively a dub mix of that track. Elsewhere, 'One Hour' is a sparkling, melodically impressive deep house workout with added bleeps, while 'The Same Again' is a locked-in-but-bouncy workout rich in fuzzy synth stabs, sweaty drum machine fills and held-note chords.

Review: House doesn't get much more Chicago than when made by Boo Williams. The big man has been turning out the jams for decades, always with an irresistible sense of low-end bite and top-end fun. This outing on the French label Phonogramme comes on clear wax and is another crucial 12". 'Melodic Groove' is just that, with rolling drums and soft melodies perfectly intertwining while 'Nite Vision' is a more broken beat and percussive affair with swirling pads up top. 'Artificial World 2023' (feat Jamiel Patton) gets your head amongst the stars with its bright, lush keys and skipping soulful drums and last of all is another heady and cosmic house roller in 'Song & Dance' (feat Jamiel Patton - Planet mix).

Review: The first part of a two-part release for Sushitech's sub label Pariter, with Chicago second generation house hero Boo Williams joining the likes of Delano Smith and Norm Talley on the roster for 'Night Fall', the partner 12" to the simultaneously released 'Day Rise'. It features three tracks, all of which fit the mold of early evening classics. 'Acid Matrix' has an early Detroit feel to its raw machine handclap snares and panther-like, stalking bassline, while 'Deep Tech' might be geographically closer to late 80s, early 90s Yorkshire, a compulsive funkiness emerging from its bleepcentric soundscape. 'Service Chamber' is sleeker and more mellow, telephone dial tones spiralling off into the ether while tinkling, xylophone-sounded keys play hypnotically. Choice, quality material that will help any DJ to subtly pick the pace up as the sun falls.

Review: Boo Williams is in good company appearing here on Sushitech's sub label Pariter where he joins the illustrious likes of Delano Smith and Norm Talley in its ranks. You wait for a Boo Williams record and then, of course, two come along, 'Day Rise' being accompanied by the simultaneously released 'Night Fall', each with their own corresponding vibe. 'Day Rise' is definitely more upbeat of the two but it's a subtle distinction - it's certainly not full of 4AM bangers designed to keep you awake until the busses start running again. 'Talley Up' is a very straight forward affair, circling around a two note synth riff and gradually building percussion. 'The Take Over' is similarly spritely, another builder with crashing cymbals, jazzy chords and drum machine tumbles steadily building an insurmountable wall of funkiness. Breezy, bumping closer 'Teleport' completes the set, meaning three ultra-handy, raw but sophisticated tunes that house and techno DJs alike will find slipping into their sets with a natural ease.

Review: There is no other way to say it then, Boo Williams is a legend of Chicago house music. There are only a handful of names in the business who have done what Boo has in his 40 plus year involvement with the scene. His own label Boo Moonman is in the midst of releasing a series of related records, 'Can't Forget You' is the seventh in the soon to be ten set in total, Boo stretching his signature cosmic sound out into deep space across four tracks. These blend jazzy keys and floating synths all to a tribal rhythm, perfect for playing during sunsets and early morning sessions. Boo just doesn't miss. Always expect quality with Mr. Williams.