Nunorthern Soul 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: While Brown Fang (Jon Thompson and Henry Scott) have worked with Huw Costin as Torn Sail before, this tidy two-tracker marks the first time a record has been jointly credited to their two projects. Naturally, the Nottingham trio has pulled out all the stops to make sure that the release is as memorable as possible. They set the tone with 'Exit', a suitably gorgeous, sofa-ready shuffler in which glistening guitars, bubbly electronics and dreamy chords ride a warming bassline and sparse, minimalistic beats. On 'Endless', the three East Midlands-based friends explore their ambient inspirations, laying down an immersive soundscape that you'll want to get lost in again and again.

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: 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.