Review: Tambores En Benirras - Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three (NuNorthern Soul)

We've been following NuNorthern Soul's exploration of remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' and trois is a magic number and the final edition in the set. 

Back in August, we had the "daytime" remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' (see review HERE) and then came remixes 2 (see review HERE) which is where we find For Mankind and Leo Zero remixing 'Eastrelias En Mstella', Asto on the tiltle track, 'Ondas Horizontales', Jesbell's 'Alma Habiando' and 100 Poems remix of 'Generadora de Rayos'.

All are fitting tributes to Tambores En Benirras (aka Graham Newby) and his original album that came out in 2024 as “ambient soundtracks, cosmic journeys, Balearic rhythms and poolside sessions”.

To open the third and final EP in the series, Newby has turned to cross-generational Balearic dream team For Mankind and Leo Zero. One for dancefloor stamina as it's a near ten-minute revision of ‘Estrellas en Mastella’ that's got wobble synth-heavy, delay-laden beats said to be influenced by the Afro-jazz-funk futurism of Jasper Van’t Hof’s Pili Pili project (see review HERE of the recently released 'Selected Works' album).

Ready to calm things down, Astro takes a laid back dreamy groove to ‘Ondas Horizontales’ on "sun-bright Balearic" beaches

The London-based Balearic rework specialist Jezebell does a take on ‘Alma Hablando’ for the  head nodders on the back row with some James Mason 'I Want Your Love' styling and for more b-boy cool, 100 Poems get on "Guru’s Jazzamatazz style beats", dubbed out guitars, simmering strings and sparkling synths to ‘Generadora de Rayos’ for another great summer track.

This is more White-Isle Friday than Black but glad it's out now so we can revel in the warmth that these 4 tracks deliver.

BUY LINK: Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three | Tambores En Benirras

Artwork by Johnny Kavannagh

Artist: Tambores En Benirras

Title: Ondas Horizontales Remixes Three

Release date: 28th November, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSTEBR003
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili - Selected Works 1984 - 2002 (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul are off the beach with an incredible retrospective of Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili!

We've had some great releases from NuNorthern Soul of late, like two remix EPs of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' (see review HERE and HERE) plus the stunning B.J. Smith 'Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4: Don't Be Cruel' featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (see review HERE) so when I say, in this office at least, the excitement of the news of a 'Selected Works' covering a near 20 year period of Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili as founded by the Dutch jazz keyboardist and bandleader.

Van't Hof has a big jazz heritage with albums alongside both US an European 'big heads' like Archie Schepp, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lol Coxhill, Philip Catherine, Larry Coryell, Joachim Kühn, Michael and Urszula Dudziak and many more so the formation of Pili Pili as an electro-acoustic Afro-fusion collective was a bit of a surprise, especially in 1984.

That said, don't be put off that it's only six tracks out of 11 albums on this 12".  Starting with 'Ile' from their debut album with is a bit like a Afro version of Chick Corea's Electric Band or the more World end of Weather Report the tracks are anything but 'standard'.

By 1987, 'Jakko Jakko' is more Afro synth pop vs. Yello and you can imagine this one being on any Sven Väth 'What I Used to Play' compilation or 'Life Size' (same year) that's basic percussion with Afro-football chant with the Nyabinghi; the band includes pecussionist from Benin and Mali (and at one stage, vocalist Angelique Kidjo).

'Hippo Hips' sounds like it should be the Afro-funker but no, that goes to 'My Gongoma' from 1985 that's heavy on the disco cowbell with echose of Manu Dibango the Cameroon/Paris fusion pioneer 20 years prior to the start of Pili Pili. 

The set ends with 2002's 'Soubatcha' on synth/kalimba/chant as Philophon goes Steve Reich which is another one set to dominate dancefloors as a early warm-up to the return of WOMAD next year (Ed. don't forget Hectic's Radio WOMAD overhight mix - HERE).

If you've already got the Ryo Kawasaki and Joan Bibiloni retrospectives on the label, this is a third must have to put next to their 12" of 'Pili-Pili' as 'Balearic' Coyote Double Drop edit from last year. 

Liner Notes music historian Matt Anniss. Artwork by Chris Maude.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Selected Works 1984 to 2002 | Jasper Van’t Hof’s Pili Pili | NuNorthern Soul

Earlier Volumes: 

https://ryokawasaki.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-1979-to-1983

https://ryokawasaki.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-part-2-1976-to-1980

https://joanbibiloni.bandcamp.com/album/selected-works-1982-to-1989

Jazz Cafe (London) Sunday 23rd November 2025: 6.30pm– (£150 – £195):  Angélique Kidjo and Alexandre Tharaud - Grammy-winning Angélique Kidjo and acclaimed French pianist Alexandre Tharaud unite to celebrate the French songbook. Together, they reinterpret classics by Édith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Joséphine Baker, and other French gems in a unique live performance blending Kidjo’s dynamic voice with Tharaud’s masterful piano.

Artist: Jasper Van't Hof's Pili Pili 

Title: Selected Works 1984 - 2002

Release date: 21st November, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSSW004V for vinyl and NUNSSW004D for digital
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Perth Lewis - Moments In Time (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul are on the beach yet again.... or are they?

Back in August, we had the "daytime" remixes of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' (see review HERE) and then a further four remixes that had something about the night about them (see review HERE) but now the NuNorthern Soul-ers find themselves in Autumn it's time to seek out ten tracks that are pure 'Moments In Time'.

And this time it's from a Sydney-based DJ/producer Luke Fugar (aka Perth Lewis) who loves dreamy drum machines and the electric guitar with various efx that sounds a little Japanese, like 'Reverie' but especially 'Two People' (Ed. no relation to '2 People Remixes'; see review HERE), a little 80's ambient and a little field recording.   

Described as "a beautifully understated record that captures the same warm, introspective feel that ....[we] felt it deserved a proper release and a wider audience" that is clearly different from his own previous releases - the twangy guitars of 'Below The Surface' hitting that Balearic beach in waves.

'To Want, Not Have' and 'Drawing The Shades' stand out but equally, the whole album could be a mixtape as it moves towards a climax of 'A Change In Seasons', 'A New Day' and 'The Perils Of Indifference'.

As we edge towards/find ourselves in  that seasonal period, this is the anti-dote to 24hr Party People over indulgence whilst having a reduced side-way's 'Snow Goose' vibe at the same time purposely tuned to re-set yourself.

A very welcome addition to the NuNorthern Soul sound machine.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Moments In Time | Perth Lewis

Artist: Perth Lewis

Title: Moments In Time

Release date: 14th November, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: B.J. Smith - Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4: Don't Be Cruel ft. Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (NuNorthern Soul)

Friend of NuNorthern Soul, B.J. Smith returns with the Balearic release of the year with the help on Joe Harvey-Whyte on steel guitar and jazz star Tamar Osborn on flute: 'Don't Be Cruel' as you've never heard it before and the only version you'll want to hear in the future!

As regular readers will know, NuNorthern Soul have been so hot this year with two remix versions of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE and remix 2 from the beginning of the month HERE), Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE) and George Koutalieris' 'Seasons' inbetween (see review HERE). 

But what label head honcho Phat Phil didn't tell us was what he was playing in addition to all this during his 10 hour DJ set at the World Famous Pikes Ibiza!  Could it have been a version of 'Don't Be Cruel'; the international hit made famous by Elvis (Presley; kids, ask your grand parents) and covered by the lesser well known country star, Billy Swan who had a few international hits himself?

So, on this long running/intermittent series 'Dedications To The Greats' that's included notably Mos Def and The Pharcyde (see Phil's blog post HERE for futher info) what has Smith, Harvey-Whyte and Osborn done to such a standard track that's ingrained into the mindset of millions to make it sound incredible!

Well, first off, that mammoth near 14 minute 'Mother Earth Version' is dreamy in the excess with the slide guitar leading from start to finish where the white isle meets the desert disco: well desert chill-out zone at least.  What's really impressive, there's hardly any vocal and no chorus line to speak of.  As they say, "familiar yet transformed, timeless yet utterly his own".

You do get more of a vocal on the 'Earth Hear Version' that features award winning Tamar Osborn (aka Tamar Collocutor, also see HERE) on flute.  But even then you don't get your first "Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true" vocal until nearly the middle of the 12 minute track! 

And talking of taking your breath away, why would they stop there as there's also an instrumental as a 'Root Heart Version' with Joe and Tamar dueling in a caress type way: bet it would also be fantastic as a rockin' battle!

If you're familiar with the Flying Mojito Bros. (see HERE), their 'cousins', the Flying Burrito Bros or Hank Wangford's steel guitar side-kick, BJ Cole (Ed. what is it with all these BJs?) you'll know how haunting an instrument the pedal steel/side guitar can be and in a seemingly increasing cruel world, it's great to hear something as beatiful as this.

Did someone say, "Brilliant"?

BUY LINK / PRE ORDER: Dedications to the Greats Four 'Don't Be Cruel' featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte | B.J. Smith

Artist: B.J. Smith - Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4

Title: Don't Be Cruel ft. Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn

Release date: 31st October, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSDTTG004V
Format: Limited Edition 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: JILO - Mirage's Colours (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul introduce us to JILO who, take a big breath,  is an engineer, artist, DJ, sometime festival curator and occasional academic with a PhD in computer music to his name - and he can see 'Mirage's Colours'!

NuNorthern Soul have been so hot on the releases recently with Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE), Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE) and head honcho Phat Phil on a 10 hour (count em 'TEN' hour' DJ session at the World Famous Pikes Ibiza: no wonder there's mirage's in the air. 

First off, you got to say that these four tracks are perfectly crafted in all ways. The opener is 'Sunset Embrace' and from the cicadas to the gentle tinkles of the seashore (with basslines, percussion and keys to match).  From an evening stroll to a 'Shadow's Tango' we get our dancing sandals/flip-flops/other beach footwear is available on before totally letting go with tubular bells-funk off on 'Blue Velvet', without sight or sound of David Lynch or Lana Del Ray! 

'Aurora' synth chills us out to finish this EP and it'sjust what you need matter if you've got a ten hour DJ set to play at 'the' most iconic venue at Santa Eularia on the white isle (Ed. all your big DJ heads have played there like DJ Harvey, Weatherall, David Morales etc) or if you're just looking at the dreamy artwork of the cover!

BUY LINK: Mirage's Colours | Jilo + Listening Party - September 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM PDT

Artist: JILO

Title: Mirage's Colours

Release date: 5th September, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: George Koutalieris - Seasons (NuNorthern Soul)

NuNorthern Soul continue to find extraordinary artists  as they introduce us to George Koutalieris' 'Seasons' for Greek Gods...  and normal folks too!

Gentle Balearics that have been tempered by the Aegean seas as Mr Koutalieris looks down from the Acropolis; well somewhere in his home city of Athens anyway.

The four tracks are a mix of ambient synth Italo lounge groove that'll fit in to any elongated Pikes session that matches the titles, 'Wildflowers', 'Seasons', 'CLYC' and 'Pangaeon Gold'.

This has elements of a very chilled out Paul Hillery's 'Children Of The Sun' series of compilations (see review HERE), a warm glow of Sun Palace's 'Raw Movements' and some Holy Mountain roots (see HERE) without showing any of those roots: save for the guitarists' love of "electronic daydreams".

This is Koutalieris' debut EP release on the label after releasing an album, 'Stop, Look, Listen' back in 2020 and then popping up on some compilations.

This all fits in nicely in a busy tme for NuNorthern Soul as they've also released JILO's 'Mirage's Colours' (see review HERE) which also follows the equally essential Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE) and Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE).

A man (and label) for all seasons you might say?

BUY LINK: Seasons | George Koutalieris / Stop, Look, Listen | George Koutalieris

Artist: George Koutalieris

Title: Seasons

Release date: 15th August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : TBC
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Roots Artefact - Different Perspective EP (NuNorthern Soul)

Tallinn! Estonia! Not exactly the heart of reggae music you'd think?  Perhaps it's time for 'Different Perspective' from Roots Artefact on NuNorthern Soul?

 

Roots Artefact is Estonia's Saimon (best known for his reggae/dub exploits with Strictly Dub Records) matched up with Seafront International's Tallinn beach groove that was first heard on NuNorthern Soul's summer compilation with the track 'The Big Calm Dubwise' (along with Visions of Light's 'Stages' that you can now find on the album 'The Mandala Vortex' - see review HERE).

The 'Different Perspective' EP comes a bit too late for the Chilled Cider festival this year but is like a too slow for Rockers in a downtempo dub stylee (inna Rocker Hi-Fi influence - see review HERE).

All four tracks,  'The Big Calm Dubwise', 'Riding With Ease', 'In Circles' and the title track with flute and sax bursts are as just in The Rhythm Doctor's DJ set list as Balaphonic "21st century Balearica" (The Rhythm Doctor is on Tallinn's IDA radio station with his 'Waiting Room' show evey Monday morning that's a great way to start the week).  

I like how there's a little bit of a toe in the water paddle with some slow-mo Ital-piano to cool things down on 'In Circles' but all four tracks are fantastic. 

BUY LINK: Different Perspective EP | Roots Artefact

 

Artist: Roots Artefact 

Title: Different Perspective EP 

Release date: 1st August, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNS070 
Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Visions of Light - The Mandala Vortex (NuNorthern Soul)

If you think Visions Of Light sounds like the sort of thing NuNorthern Soul label boss Phil Cooper would be getting very excited about, you'd be right and here's the album 'The Mandala Vortex' to get you ready for a Balaphonic summer!

Just to be clear, 'The Mandala Vortex' is nothing like Balaphonic's 'Resolution Revolutions' (see review HERE and the interview with Danny 'Balaphonic' Ward HERE), but much like the other recent release on the NuNorthern Soul label, Maarten Goetheer (featuring Pong Nakornchai), the "tribute", 'Suite For Chick' (see review HERE) there's more than a synergy between them all.

No more so than the track 'Breathe' (featuring Alma Chomel on vocals) which brings Acid to QiGong/Yoga exercises in 'Left Bank' francaise bien sûr and the dubby trip hop ambient space jam 'The Last Domino' - expect the likes of Mixmaster Morris and The Rhythm Doctor playing these out a the obligatory festivals from Glastonbury to WeOutHere.

If you're already a Freebooter's Simon Sheldon along with Nik Muzka and Dan Dub Lounge (aka Daniel Sanders) you'll know that there's going to be lots of dubby "21st century Balearica" particulary on 'Clearwater' and 'Daytime'. 

For the serious Flute Gang collective, wait for the 'Destination' to arrive on ya beautiful dreamy jazz ears (flute by Alex Saxon) whilst the liquid 'Echoes Of Time' (featuring the sax of Gionni Cigwood) cascades to the Balearic beach dub before 'Sands' meets at the after club acid souk.

And in case you were wondering where the reggae-dub vs. Japanese formal garden themed track was, don't worry as it's here in the form of 'Bring It Back' and a synthy 'Trip' that's yet another stand out track on an album of stand-outs that'll mesmerize you in a good "too slow to trip-hop" way that you'll won't want to turn it off.

A classic collection of ten tracks that'll keep you 'turned on', 'tuned in' and 'Breathe'!

BUY LINK: https://visions-of-light.bandcamp.com/album/the-mandala-vortex

 

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Artist: Visions of Light

Title: The Mandala Vortex   

Release date: 11th July, 2025
Label : NuNorthernSoul
Catalog Number : NUNS069D
Format:  Vinyl LP / Digital / Bandcamp