Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance: A Chapter in the NuNorthern Soul Story
- Phat Phil Cooper
- Oct 4
- 4 min read
A celebration of memory, culture, and connection between Wales and the Balearics.
As NuNorthern Soul continues to build a catalogue of music rooted in reflection, discovery, and timeless expression, this blog post takes a deeper dive into one of the label’s most meaningful projects.
On 1st March 2024, NuNorthern Soul unveiled Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance — a release that transcends the idea of a conventional record. It’s an exploration of identity, language, and memory, arriving on a date that holds deep meaning: St David’s Day in Wales and Balearic Day in the Balearic Islands.
Timed with purpose, it forms part of a broader NuNorthern Soul journey — one that places as much value on stories and cultural connections as it does on music itself.
The collaborators
This project came together through a remarkable meeting of voices, languages, and creative forces:
Joan Bibiloni – the legendary Mallorcan musician, whose pioneering work has long shaped the Balearic sound. He composed and arranged Badia Onírica and Un Adéu, grounding the project in island soul and sensitivity.
Jim Baron (aka JIM / Crazy P) – adding his signature touch as co-producer and arranger, blending electronic textures with Joan’s melodic world. His additional production and mix work on Badia Onírica creates a space where ambient, spoken word, and subtle rhythm intertwine.
Rhys Ifans – the celebrated Welsh actor lends his voice to the Welsh and English recitations of Waldo Williams’ poem Cofio, bringing emotional weight and authenticity to the project.
Pep Tosar – respected Catalan actor, who delivers the poem in Catalan and Spanish, extending the message of remembrance into the Mediterranean tongue.
The poetry: Cofio
At the heart of this release is Cofio (“Remembrance”), written in 1936 by Welsh poet Waldo Williams. A meditation on memory, time, and what lingers long after people and places change, it speaks to a universal human experience.
Through translations into English, Catalan, and Spanish (alongside the original Welsh), the poem becomes not just a national treasure, but a shared hymn of reflection.
So significant is this work that the complete set of Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance recordings has been formally inducted into the archives of the National Library of Wales, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Cofio (English translation)
One brief moment as the sun is setting,
One quiet moment as the night comes on
To bring to mind the things that are forgotten,
Lost now in the dust of time long gone.
Like the white foam of waves on lonely beaches
Like the wind’s song when there is none to hear
I know that they are calling to us, vainly –
The old forgotten things we once held dear.
The cunning and the craft of early peoples
That built alike small dwelling and great hall,
The well-wrought legends lost among the ages,
The gods of old gone now beyond recall.
The little words of languages long vanished
That once were merry on the lips of men
And lovely in the lisping of small children
That no tongue now will ever speak again.
And all the earth’s unnumbered generations,
Their pious dreams and fragile piety,
Is nothing left in all those hearts but silence
Where gladness and where grief were wont to be?
Often in the dusk, as I sit lonely,
Great longing comes, to bring you all to mind.
Do heart and memory somewhere still hold you,
You old forgotten things of humankind?
The artwork
Every NuNorthern Soul release tells its story not just through sound, but also through its visual identity. For Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance, the artwork was created by Mike Cranston, who worked closely with the project team to reflect the themes of memory, language, and place.
Early drafts explored:
Minimalist interpretations of waves and tides — symbolising the passage of time and the crossing of cultures.
Typographic treatments that placed the different language versions of the poem side by side, highlighting its multilingual character.
Muted colour palettes with touches of light and shade, to evoke remembrance, reflection, and the meeting of day and night.
The final sleeve and 4-page insert balance these ideas, creating a piece that feels timeless while honouring both Balearic and Welsh influences.
The music & tracklist
The vinyl and digital release features six tracks:
Badia Onírica (Welsh Version)
Badia Onírica (English Version)
Un Adéu (Instrumental Version)
Un Adéu (Catalan Version)
Un Adéu (Spanish Version)
Badia Onírica (Instrumental Version)
Badia Onírica: expansive and dreamlike, weaving recitations with layers of sound and atmosphere.
Un Adéu: a more intimate, elegiac piece, presented in Catalan, Spanish, and instrumental versions.
Instrumentals give listeners space to inhabit the music, carrying their own reflections into the sound.
The project was mixed by Ric Peet, mastered by Simon Mills, with sleeve artwork and insert design by Mike Cranston.
Concept and management came via Gareth Potter and Phil Cooper.
Why 1st March matters
The release date was no accident.
St David’s Day celebrates Welsh culture, language, and identity.
Balearic Day marks the Balearic Islands’ heritage, autonomy, and cultural pride.
By launching Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance on this shared date, the project becomes a living act of connection between two places defined by language, landscape, and spirit.
A listening guide
This is not music for hurried moments. It is best experienced slowly:
Let the recitations play out in each language and notice how sound shapes meaning differently.
Use the instrumentals as a canvas for your own memories.
Play it at sunrise, sunset, or in still rooms — places where reflection feels natural.
Closing thoughts
With Cofio / Recorda / Remembrance, NuNorthern Soul continues its tradition of unearthing music that goes beyond genre — a catalogue where each release tells a story, reveals a culture, or carries a fragment of memory.
The induction of this project into the National Library of Wales underscores its cultural weight, honouring both Balearic roots and Welsh heritage. It is a release that proves music can be as much about remembrance and identity as it is about rhythm and melody.
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