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

Jazz Cafe (London) Sunday 23rd November 2025

12pm & 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 : NUNSSW002D
Format:   Digital / Bandcamp