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