Chris Coco & George Solar – Lagrimas De San Lorenzo

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The Balearic brethren are back again, bringing the sound of Summer with this beautiful guitar lead two tracker, another essential soundtrack for your escapist journeys, be they real or virtual.

‘With “Lagrimas De San Lorenzo” Chris Coco & George Solar channel their inner star child in order to complete their summer Island phenomena tribute trilogy in style.

Following up on the dub infused “Noche De San Juan” and the rather tropical jazz  smoothie “September On The Island”, this time it’s all about getting lost in cosmic stargazing: the quite impressive “Tears of San Lorenzo” occur as an intense Perseid meteor shower night time spectacle all across the Mediterranean each year around mid august – and this is their rather adequate soundtrack. A star struck one.

This time around, the crisp beat section touches the more hip active mid tempo regions, with spacey synths & funky organic percussion layers carrying a light yet pretty profound jazz guitar skywards… the latter contributed by Argentinian born & Ibiza based Virtuoso Mathias Kamelman aka Kamelmat exclusively for the occasion. 

And so it’s time again soon to gather on that island and get together under the moon & the stars in order to celebrate life. All the tears shed on warm summer nights like that are destined to be tears of pure joy. Look up there… or just ask Lorenzo!’

Released March 19, 2021 via Bandcamp – link below

Jamu – Chris Coco

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Lovely new album release from Chris Coco, file under ambient / deep listening / jazz / cosmic / balearic. Perfectly timed for the return of the sun, slow burning deepness that’ll reward some time and repeated listens, get it at Bandcamp link above and get your best headphones ready for a treat…

‘This is a new album project called Jamu. It is the second collection from Chris Coco inspired by the magical island of Bali, following on from the 2017 album Return To Good Karma. The title is the name of a drink made of local herbs sold by street vendors that is good for health and vitality. I hope we have created a musical version of that healthy juice with our particular variety of ingredients.

This project was made in collaboration with a close group of musician friends. Each person played their part separately on the simple original grooves and soundscapes, inspired by the rhythm or what the last player or singer had laid down. We built a ‘live’ sound without ever playing together. After that I used the live parts to edit and process to eventually create the finished work.’

Released March 5, 2021

September On The Island – George Solar Chris Coco

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Balearic legends Chris Coco and George Solar have just released a cracking follow up to their smash October collaboration ‘Noche de San Juan‘. This time they’re celebrating my favourite month to visit Ibiza with ‘September on the Island’, a shimmering, jazzy dubwise slice of late summer soul. Best listened to from a sleepy bar with a glass of Hierbas and a view of Es Vedra I’d say, get involved via Bandcamp link below.

Release date 15/1/21

Celestial Hike EP – Mike Salta & Mortale

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To round off another year of sun-kissed, soul-soothing musical adventures, NuNorthern Soul has turned to studio partners Mike Salta and Marty Mortale, a Denmark-based duo with decades of production experience behind them.

A superb four track EP from Mike Salta & Mortale on Phil Cooper’s NuNorthern Soul label. It might be grey and damp here in the UK right now but this release in pure Summer and sunshine, flawless quality from first to last. Get on the pre-order now via Bandcamp link below…

New Mixtape for Dartmouth Arms / Disappearing Dining Club

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It was an honour to be invited to create a mixtape for the lovely crew at the Dartmouth Arms / Disappearing Dining Club, as they’ve previously shared mixes from some top selectors like Ray Mang, Phil Cooper, Moonboots, Chris Coco, Pete Gooding, Phil Mison and their excellent residents Neil Thornton and Stuart Langley. Their taste in music is matched the quality of their venue and the hospitality they offer, all top quality from the vintage Celestion soundsystem to the stylish modern cooking, get along if you get the chance. It’s two hours of super chilled, beautiful music, enjoy…

Tracklist…

1. The Soft Rain Falls – Chris Coco

2. Starlight Lullaby – Los Days

3. Sunset Village – Beverly Glenn Copeland

4. The Eighth Wave – Suzanne Ciani

5. Pleasure Joy & Happiness – Eddie Chacon

6.Un Vida Llarga I Tranquila – Joan Bibiloni

7. Pharoah – RAS

8.Give the Light Back to the Night – Plastic Fantastic (Feat. Sally Rodgers)

9. Noche de San Juan – George Solar & Chris Coco

10. Liquid Deep – Dreamcast

11. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown – Braces Tower Dub

12. Patchouli – James Bright

13.Starseeds  – Seahawks

14. Reclaim Landscape – Clandestino Beach Version – OOFT

15. Citations – Mildlife

16. Honey Rooftops – Blair French

17. The Advisory Circle – Sundial

18.Pharaohs – Tears for Fears

19.Conversational – Domenic Leone

20.Cafe del Mar – Frank Fischer

21. Tinseltown in the Rain – The Blur Nile

22. Regnantem Sempiterna – Jan Garbarek & the Hilliard Ensemble

23. After the Storm – Greg Foat

Leonidas & Hobbes, ‘Aranath’ EP

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Leonidas & Hobbes make a timely return with ‘Aranath‘ EP, 3 years after ‘Web Of Intrigue’ (from 3rd EP Rags Of Time) was voted No1 in Bill Brewster’s 2017 DJ History poll.  Delivering a follow-up to many people’s 2017 summer anthem has been something of a protracted process, not least due to Covid and the 400 miles between us.  

A cracking package that is being launched as a Kickstarter project with loads of lovely merch and extras to enjoy, get behind it here.

Aranath features the hugely talented multi-instrumentalist Riad Abji and his virtuoso cello & tanpura raga, which inspired us to create 4 mixes, combining Riad’s eastern lament with classic house and ambient techno. The release is complemented by the tropical flavours of ‘Into It’ and ‘Out Of It’. The previously unreleased ambient mix of ‘Web of Intrigue’ (digital-only bonus track) from ‘Rags of Time’ rounds off what can certainly be described as a ‘deep’ release.

The sleeve art was inspired by an Indian painting from the 19th Century and created over the course of many obsessive evenings at the height of lockdown (as was some of the audio). Needless to say, the whole project has helped to keep us both sane through these crazy months.

A limited edition vinyl record will be pressed up, featuring our signature in the run-out groove/dead wax, in a full colour sleeve with 3mm spine, shrink-wrapped (PLUS download code, including 3 bonus tracks – NB This includes an 8 min ‘Edit’ of ‘Aranath’ (Original Mix).

Noche De San Juan – George Solar & Chris Coco

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This is what happens when two original Balearic heads meet up in the name of dub, sunsets & left field Ibiza.

A playful, almost innocent reggae riddim with a jazzy saudade twist, created in just a few summer nights on the axis of goodness linking up central London and the hills of Ibiza’s very own San Juan.

It is believed that on the night of summer solstice (aka “Noche de San Juan”), paranormal events are more likely to occur… as in this shortest night of the year, humans make contact with pagan gods by jumping over huge bonfires. A local Spanish tradition welcoming the summer, always related to fire & water.

Chris Coco and George Solar transformed those Ibicenco vibes into sound this year, with a little help from members of the infamous Ibiza based Dubtropical Allstars band. The beginning of something beautiful indeed – thanks to the music & fire gods. Version galore, play it some more!

Released October 2, 2020

James Bright – The Zooniverse EP

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Hot on the heels of his early Summer Betamax EP, prolific balearic producer James Bright is back with his new 5 tracker, the Zooniverse EP on Quattro Music. His trademark shimmering, summery sounds are showcased here, with those bubbling, hypnotic acid lines never far away.

Head nodding chuggers for headphone hedonism are the elements of this universe, rather than big room bangers. We can all extend our Summer season with these downtempo poolside classics.

The escapist ambience starts with opener ‘Timelapse’, a cinematic glide with echoes of the Thievery Corporation. Then onto title track ‘Zooniverse’, with it’s brooding acidic throb. Track three is ‘Patchouli’ a deeper, swirling trip of psychedelic dub, and a personal favourite for me. ‘Freq Out’ is next, a mid tempo dancefloor cut with nagging 303’s and atmospheric synth lines. Finally JB lets us down gently with closer ‘Cosmos,’ a slo-mo tropical journey, with ringing guitars, merimbas and yes, that essential squelch.

Top drawer balearic business, an essential purchase, download or stream.

BUY / STREAM HERE 🙂