Nunorthern Soul 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Now working under the alias Balaphonic, long serving Manchester artist Danny Ward steers his ear for percussion into something warm, rhythmically rich and hypnotic. He opens with 'Sunflowers in Dub (Deep Summer Mix)', where sitar, harmonica and fluttering keys glide across a humid dubscape, then folds in sun-dappled samba on 'Disorganics (All Strings Mix)', all brushed guitars and delicate groove. 'Six Fingers' leans deeper into Afro-Cuban melancholy, while 'Udders' chops South American drums into psychedelic loops, teasing out low-end heft. A standout collaboration with Ocean Waves Brasil, 'Oxum' blends gentle acid with dreamy textures and Afro-Brazilian swing, before closer 'Bloco Manco' lets off the brakes-delay-lashed, bass-heavy and totally locked-in. It's music built for dancefloors, but with the patience and touch of a drummer who knows when to let things breathe.

Review: With over 50 years of experience dating way back to the early 70s with the progressive outfit Zebra, Joan has left quite a discography that is still being discovered and enjoyed. This EP - Joan Bibloni's second appearance on the label in total - features three versions of 'Badia Onirica', two of them being language versions and then the instrumental. Overall, the song is a track fitting for the Cafe Del Mar sound - a mix of folk, electronica, house with a Latin and folk influence and versions in Spanish and Catalan. An EP for watching the sunsets, dreaming on the beach and remembering life's great time with friends and family. NuNorthernSoul continues to honor the chill out legacy.

Review: NuNorthern Soul's 2021 Record Store Day offering is something of a treat. It's a fresh reissue of an impossible-to-find promo 45 first issued to promote Flamenco legend El Turronero's 1980 disco album, EL Hondo. It features two tracks that have long been regular features in the sets of many dusty-fingered Balearic selectors, especially globe-trotting cult leader DJ Harvey. On the A-side you'll find the cosmic, driving, synth-laden brilliance of 'Las Penas (La Cana) - a genuine "everything but the kitchen sink" affair topped off by El Turronero's distinctive vocals - while the more exotic 'Si Yo Volviera Al Nacer', where synths and Sitars accompany the Flamenco-disco grooves, resides on the flip.

Review: 'Suite For Chick' is a heartfelt tribute to the late jazz legend Chick Corea. This 12" was assembled to reimagine classics like 'City Gate, Rumble,' 'Time Track,' 'Hymn of the Heart' and Return to Forever's 'Romantic Warrior.' It finds Bangkok-based Maarten Goetheer collaborating with Thailand's jazz virtuoso Pong Nakornchai and blending Wurlitzer chords, Moog basslines, ARP leads and Rhodes phasings. Inspired by his jazz-pianist father, Maarten fuses classic jazz with modern genres like techno, cosmic disco and ambient for a fresh take on jazz fusion. These electrifying interpretations honour Corea's pioneering legacy in jazz and fusion from his groundbreaking work with Miles Davis to founding Return to Forever.

Review: Back after a three-year break, NuNorthern Soul's Summer Selections 2025 marks the fifth instalment in the label's beloved Balearic series, which has evolved over the years as an alloying of Ibiza-ready sounds from beachfront occupiers new and old. Manu Archeo opens the set with a slomo rework of Nightdubbing's self-titled cut, while George Koutalieries follows with 'Seasons', a wordless guided medication set upon a golden-hour fade. Label newcomer James E Burton dials up the texture with roomy live drums and suitably blear-ic pads (there's still sleep in your eye). Then comes Visions Of Light, a new trio led by Simon Sheldon, offering dubby percussion and real bridge tremolo on 'The Mandela Vortex'. Finally, Roots Artefact lays down a thick dubbing in 'The Big Calm Dubwise', before French producer Jilo signs off with 'Shadow's Tango'.

Review: The Nunorthern Soul label heads into its second decade of operation and does so by welcoming back label regular Benjamin J Smith. He's a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer whose sound tick all of the textbook Balearic boxes but with a little extra magic. He shows that again here with 'Marina Del Rey', a gloriously sunny sound with lavish and lush strings and gently swaying grooves with a mix of 60s and Library vibes. On the flip is the even more horizontal 'Big Sur' with its romantic melodic breeze and intoxicating instrumental leads all backed by rich vocals.

Review: 'Pili Pili' by Jasper Van't Hof catapulted the fusion band into the limelight in 1984, with its infectious blend of African rhythms and jazz sensibilities. This 12" EP, featuring the iconic 15-minute original alongside a 2024 Coyote edit, offers a complete tribute to the songs history. Remastered and cut for maximum impact, both versions showcase the band's dynamic energy and innovative approach to fusion music. From the hypnotic groove of the original to the reimagined Coyote edit, each track exudes a timeless appeal that will undoubtedly wow listeners on the dancefloor. This release is a testament to Pili Pili's enduring influence and Van't Hof's pioneering vision in bridging musical cultures.

Review: Founded in London and now based in Ibiza, NuNorthern Soul has grown from humble roots to become one of the most popular outlets for Balearic music. Their 10th anniversary edition is a celebratory affair featuring some of their catalogue's unreleased and hard to find tracks seeing the light of day. Highlights come from Ron Basejam who lends his Midas touch to Ragz Nordset's 'You Started It All', Andi Hanley's slo-mo chug rework of Ryo Kawasaki's 'Hawaiian Caravan', Sun Fanatics going poolside on their Beatless Remix of George Koutalieris' 'Early Morning Ferry' as well as veteran of The White Isle Willie Graff serving up a slinky and hypnotic version of My Friend Dario's 'Fenice' among many more.

Review: This much sought-after treasure was originally a private press release back in 1981 but it has been remastered as a special drop for Record Store Day 2024. It is a sublime album of blue-eyed soul with overtones of country and Americana that make it all the more evocative and escapist. The songwriting is reflective, the musicianship is tight, the melodies impressive and the vocals effortlessly captivating. The NuNorthern Soul label has been serving up these sorts of nuggets and obscurities for over a decade now but this is right up there with the best of them.