Boo Williams

Despite being amongst Chicago's first wave of house activists (he started DJing in 1981) and a near 30-year production career that includes releases on such imprints as Relief Records, Rush Hour, Djax-Up Beats and Strictly Jaz Unit, Boo Williams has never received the plaudits his impeccable track record deserves. Each new release from the long serving Chicagoan is worth a listen, and this EP on his own imprint is no exception. Blurring the boundaries between Afro-house, deep house and the tech-tinged hybrid sounds of Osunlade, Backwards Jive is a fine four-tracker all told. Our picks of a very strong bunch are sun-soaked and percussion-rich opener 'Track One' (with its autotune-heavy lead vocal), the locked in Afro-tech hypnotism of 'Space Mix', and the densely layered beats and sci-fi synth chords of 'Track 4'.