BOO WILLIAMS Schallplatten & CDs

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: House music doesn't get much more authentic than when cooked up by someone like early American great Boo Williams. The big man has that perfect combination of killer rhythms and meaningful synths. That's ably showcased right from the first cut here - 'Living Waters' pairs competing drums with sombre chords that really get you here it hurts. 'End Of Days' then gets more upbeat with chunky drums and raw perc overlaid with jazzy melodies that keep you locked in. There is unbridled piano joy to 'My God' which will raise any roof and 'Fruits Of The Spirit' (dub) is more mellifluous and zoned out for tender late night sessions.

Review: Chicago house don Boo Williams is one of those artists who has a distinctive sound. It's the way his kicks kick with real force but also infectious funk. He's turned out a steady steam of such sounds for decades and continues to find freshness in his own forms. This new 12" on Trax Research is yet another case in point - well-crafted cuts designed to liven up any dancefloor. Importantly, though, that is never at the expense of real machine soul and plenty of authentic emotions.

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: 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: 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.