NOMO - Ghost Rock (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Ghost Rock is the new album from the Michigan-based collective NOMO. The album sheds light on the way forward for a band that has been forging its own vital sound. This is not the Afrobeat of Fela, nor the revivalist Funk of a forgotten decade. This record owes as much to Can, Eno, and MIA as it does Kuti, Francis Bebey, and Funkadelic. On Ghost Rock, NOMO arrives in a new place. There’s no loss of steam as they incorporate new influences, instead NOMO breaks through with a matured and developed sound that is fully its own.

Nobody Presents Blank Blue - Western Water Music Vol. II (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Blank Blue is the surreal story of an Armageddon born out of a massive earthquake off the west coast of the United States and set sometime in the future. The quake triggers a separation of the west from the rest of the country, creating a whirlpool of devastation in its wake. Millions die. Thousands survive. Those that survive eventually sink and drown from the buckling lands, only to have scores of poison mushrooms waiting for them underneath the earth's masses, loosened from centuries old trees. The poisoned water gives them their first gasp, and miraculously they are able to and breathe and live underwater. The album tells the story from various points of views, from an all-knowing narrator, to a psychic fish that warns people via their dreams, to random characters who watch their loved ones drown or ask the others underwater how to find the ability to breathe. The confusion and sadness is balanced by the fascination of having to start everything all over again; learning how to breathe and swim etc.

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Miles Of Styles (Ubiquity CD/LP)

The seventh in the Ping Pong Orchestra album series see’s multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee go global. This is the soundtrack to places Lee has been, and would like to visit, and was made using instruments he’s picked-up along the way. Miles of Styles is inspired by the multi-cultural mix of people in his hometown of London, the awe inspiring metropolis that is New York City, and by the mysterious uber-stylish vibe of Tokyo. Not to mention Jamaica, Finland, Greece, China, France and beyond…

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Miles Of Smiles (Ubiquity Digital Release)

Exclusive preview of Shawn Lee's "Miles Of Style" featuring a Windsurf remix of 'Brazilian Bubble'

Eric Lau - New Territories (Ubiquity CD/LP)

The production skills of Eric Lau are powered by his love of manipulating sound in a soulful manner. Influenced by artists like Jay Dee, Pete Rock, D'angelo, ?uestlove, James Poyser, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, and Shuggie Otis, he seeks to walk in thier path of genre-busting releases while adding a twist of his own. Using a blend of samples and instrumentation, his music already spans a variety of different genres and his collaborations with an eclectic collective of soul singers, musicians, dj's, rappers and producers with the same mind set will help push the envelope further. He may well be a producer you’ve heard, but not heard of, by way of his productions for the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Guilty Simpson, Wildchild, Tanya Morgan, Hil St Soul, and a family of up n’coming artists who are featured on New Territories, his debut solo album.

Connie Price & The Keystones - Tell Me Something (Ubiquity CD/LP)

On the follow-up to their Now-Again/Stones Throw album, Connie Price and the Keystones step-up with a heavyweight dynamic soundtrack-inspired hip hop album.  While their debut was instrumental, Tell Me Something is the opposite, featuring a marquee-filling list of quality MCs.  The legendary Percee P, Wildchild from the Lootpack, Ubiquity-labelmate Ohmega Watts, Soup from Jurassic 5, Blood Of Abraham, Mykah 9 from the Freestyle Fellowship and Project Blowed, plus vocalist Aloe Blacc provide lyrics n’rhymes.

The Lions - Jungle Struttin' (Ubiquity CD/DLP)

A unique Jamaican-inspired outfit, featuring members of Breakestra, Connie Price & the Keystones, Rhythm Roots All-Stars, Orgone, & Madlib’s Sound Directions.  Reggae rhythms n' dub techniques mash with the sound of Ethiopia, Africa, Colombia and a heavy dose of laid-back California soul, jazz, and funk. Jungle Struttin’ is a bass-bin rockin’ authentic take on an old school soulful reggae vibe with a tasty modern edge.

Clutchy Hopkins - Walking Backwards (Ubiquity CD/LP x DVD)

The Lions - Jungle Struttin b/w Ethio-Steppers (Wilderstyle dub) (Ubiquity 7'')

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - A Very Ping Pong Christmas (Ubiquity CD)

Orgone - The Killion Floor (Ubiquity CD/DLP)

Johnny Blas - Indestructible Spirit (Cubop CD)

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Hits The Hits (Ubiquity CD)

Ohmega Watts - Watts Happening (Ubiquity CD/DLP)

Eugene Blacknell - We Can't Take Life For Granted (Luv N'Haight CD/2xLP)

Oakland guitar ace Eugene Blacknell released multiple singles that ranged in style from raw r'n'b to power house funk. His musical career stretched from the early 1960s to the end of the 1980s and during that time he established himself as an East Bay original, an entrepreneur, an activist, and a family man. With so many accomplishments it’s an irony of fate that he died before releasing an album despite having recorded enough material for several. This is the official Eugene Blacknell debut album, and the story of a Bay Area legend.

RAMP - The Old One, Two (Luv N'Haight 12'')

We've got two previously unreleased tracks by legendary 1970s soul act RAMP! Both produced by vibes-master Roy Ayers post-release of their 1977 classic Come Into Knowledge album. These are not new recordings, these are vintage RAMP, previously unheard but rescued recently from a demo the band recorded on cassette. Newly mastered, eq'd and now ready to rumble on loud n'proud 12" vinyl.

V/A - Choices EP 2 (Ubiquity EP)

The second Choices EP includes hard hitting bubbling electric soul from Milez Benjiman, a super DJ friendly extended raucus Afrobeat jam from Ohmega Watts (a version not on the upcoming album), and a mad remix of the Radio Citizen favorite "The Hop" by Hudson Mohawke.

Bobby Matos - Best Of (Cubop CD)

Various Artists "Super Cool, California Soul V. II" (LuvN'Haight CD/2xLP)

Super Cool features music recorded between 1966 and 1982 and spans eclectic genres from soul jazz, blues, heavy funk, modern soul, Northern soul, disco and even includes a ballad (previously unavailable on CD) from Luv N'Haight fave Darondo. These are tracks from artists who may not be household names but they were the sound of the underground, session musicians, players, and characters that kept the scenes from San Francisco to Los Angeles and beyond alive. Artists featured have played with everyone from Fela Kuti to George Clinton and these tracks feature members of acts like Funkadelic, War, and Sam Cooke's band.

Orgone "I Get Lifted b/w It's What You Do" 12'' Ubiquity (UR12213)

“I Get Lifted” is a version of the track Harry Wayne Casey (K.C.) and Richard Finch (later known in life as KC and the Sunshine Band) produced for George McCrae.  Los Angeles vocalist Fanny Franklin shines on vocals riding an irresistible cosmic-flavored tune that settles nicely somewhere between live disco and spacey soul.  Franklin has appeared on recordings by Dakah and sang alongside Macy Gray.  She is the de-facto Orgone vocalist to appear on tours and as the main vocalist on the upcoming album.

On the flip is an instrumental inspired as much by Roy Ayers as Fela Kuti. “It’s What You Do” will appeal to fans of the bands previous recordings like “Hambone” and “Funky Nassau.”

Orgone "The Duck Gravy 7'' Ubiquity (UR7214)

"Duck and Cover" is the hard hitting 7” from Los Angeles hot property Orgone. This funk fiends platter will be available in limited quantity in stores and on European tour dates this May.

Jimi Tenor "Joystone" (Ubiquity CD/2xLP)

Joystone is the latest musical excursion by the ever-inventive arranger, composer and musician Jimi Tenor. On Joystone the super-eccentric Finn teams up with Kabu Kabu, a trio of West-African musicians and ex-Fela Kuti sidemen lead by Nicholas Addo Nettey. The result is an exceptionally unique and inspired album that joins the dots between dance music, Afro-beat, funk, and pop.

Peder "And He Just Pointed to the Sky" (Ubiquity CD)

As an award winning producer and member of the hip hop production team The Prunes, he has produced, remixed and released a long list of somebodys including the Beastie Boys, DJ Krush, The Roots, and DJ Vadim for labels like Mo' Wax and Grand Royal. After reading an interview with Rick Rubin, Peder decided to follow the super producer's lead, and close his eyes and listen instead of looking at the computer screen. Hold tight, sit back and crank up the gothic, crackly, theatrical, beaten up, and slightly grown-up sound of Peder. Features Shawn Lee, and vocalists like Bay Area soul man Nino Moschella, New York based gospel singer Dean Bowman, Danish singers Ane Trolle and Joy Morgan.

Nostalgia 77 "Everything Under The Sun" (Ubiquity CD)

On "Everything Under The Sun" Ben Lamdin, the driving force behind Nostalgia 77, teams up with vocalists to create a beautiful cosmic-tinged jazz album that sounds as much classic, spiritual, Impulse-influenced music as it does Cinematic Orchestra and Koop. "It's music with roots in jazz but with hands reaching out to anyone who wants to take them . . . Imagine if Portishead did a jazz record?" Says Lamdin.

Various Artists "Choices EP V.1" (Ubiquity EP)

The Lions "Think", Hipster Wonkaz "Jupiter Jam" Connie Price and the Keystones featuring Percee P "Thundersounds", Hudson Mohawke "Free Mo." The brand new Ubiquity EP series features multiple artists, all exclusive tracks - all killer no filler. Tunes will be one-off collaborations, exclusive mixes, sneak peaks at future Ubiquity albums, and new joints collected from artists around the world. All tunes will be 100% DJ friendly. This first EP will debut as a promo at WMC 2007, and will be released just two weeks later. EPs will be released simultaneously on vinyl, digitally via all the usual channels, with limited edition CD, too.

Lanu "This Is My Home" (Ubiquity CD)

This Is My Home is the stunning solo debut from New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based producer Lanu (aka Lance Ferguson). Brimming with future soul and broken beat flavors, forward-thinking production and intuitive jazz sensibility, this album marks a distinct departure from the raw, deep funk sound of Ferguson's other project, The Bamboos. Features guests Quantic and Aloe Blacc.

Shawn Lee "Voices and Choices " (Ubiquity LP)

On Voices and Choices Lee's signature style moody instrumentals are accompanied by vocals for the first time in four albums. Full songs and instrumental textures are nods to classic producers David Axelrod and Charles Stepney who used choir-like walls of vocal to create their big productions. Includes appearances by labelmates Ohmega Watts and Nino Moschella.

Malone & Barnes "Freedom Serenade" (Ubiquity LP)

Johnny Malone met Allan Barnes while studying at Howard University in the 1960's. Taught by Donald Byrd, they were also classmates with Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, and Angela Winbush. Barnes was already a member of the The Blackbyrds. When the two friends formed Malone Barnes and Spontaneous Simplicity (named after the tune by Sun-Ra) the collaboration yielded Freedom Serenade, an album of super spacey and spiritual jazz funk. Released in limited quantity in 1976, on their Humpin’ International label, this rare album bears the hallmarks of contemporaries like the Blackbyrds, the Mizell Brothers and DC neighbors Oneness of Ju-Ju. .

Shawn Lee vs. Nino MOschella "Kiss The Sky" b/w "Holding On"(Ubiquity LP)

Collaborations, remixes, exclusive tracks, album previews - it's all here on this new EP featuring producer extraordinaire Shawn Lee and crooner Nino Moschella.

Included are "Kiss The Sky," with an exclusive remix from Mark Pritchard, and "Song For David" from Shawn Lee's upcoming Voices and Choices Lp due out in early 2007, featuring the vocal work of Nino Moschella. In addition, Shawn Lee's remixes Nino's "Holding On" taken from his debut release The Fix.

Freddie Cruger "Soul Search" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

On Soul Search Swedish producer/DJ Freddie Cruger delivers a debut album of original tracks that illustrate why this master of genre-mash-ups has made a permanent home of DJ record boxes across the globe. Cruger’s authentic mix of old school hip-hop and b-boy grooves effortlessly incorporates dirty funk, soul, reggae, Latin and disco rhythms into impossibly irresistible tracks.

TM Juke "Forward" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Stepping out with the album he’s always wanted to make 27 year old Al Cowan, aka TM Juke, is firmly pushing Forward. It’s his first album released domestically by Ubiquity, and second as TM Juke for Tru Thoughts. He has also produced the Alice Russell albums and more remixes than you can shake a stick at. This album almost didn’t happen. In fact it wasn’t for a sudden change of heart it would have sounded completely different.

Owusu & Hannibal "Living With Owusu & Haniibal" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Living With Owusu and Hannibal is the debut album from Danish duo Philip Owusu and Robin Hannibal. Packed with street smarts, a cheeky sense of humor and forward thinking production this soul-tinged debut is made up of (mostly) down tempo songs. Juxtaposing glitchy digital beats, fat bottom end, and shiny synths with acoustic guitars and lush strings they retain their warmth and organic vibe but have been given a thorough roughing-up around the edges.

After the dreamy intro (sung in Danish by local school kids) Living With Owusu and Hannibal kicks off with the appropriately blues-y vibe of “Blue Jay” (a song about an immigrant night worker) that sits guitar and gospel-shaded vocal on top of a disjointed beat and eighties flavored keys. “Lonnie’s Secret” and “Another Mile” take the bpms up several notches with rubbery bass lines, while “Watch” is a string laden ballad (about a guy falling in love with a girl in a movie) with an unexpected twist. Eschewing all the rules the album features full and partial songs, instrumentals and tracks that sound just as good intimate, in your headphones, as they do blasting through a car or club sound system.

Spanky Wilson and The Quantic Soul Orchestra "I'm Thankful" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Since she burst onto the scene in the late 1960s, Spanky Wilson has performed and recorded with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., Lalo Schifrin, Jimmy Smith, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Pretty Purdie and Willie Bobo. Renowned as a soul, blues and jazz singer on both sides of the Atlantic, she has consistently released quality music for the past four decades, collaborating with some of the most talented and respected producers of the day. She has released seven albums under her own name, and tracks like "Sunshine of Your Love" and "You" have become DJ and collector favorites worldwide.

I’m Thankful sees her team up with Will Holland of The Quantic Soul Orchestra to produce a stunning collection of 21st Century jazz, funk, big band and soul music. Will "Quantic" Holland and Wilson first collaborated in 2004 on two tracks for the third Quantic album, Mishaps Happening. Inspired by this positive experience, they decided to write an album together. Months of work culminated in a week-long recording session in Los Angeles and Holland recruited some of the funk-soul scene’s finest players to help him realize his vision, including Todd Simon on trumpet and Phil Ranelin on trombone.

NOMO "Nu Tones" 12" featuring Matthew Dear remix (Ubiquity 12")

This is the first single release from Michigan based NOMO following their full length New Tones. Included is an exclusive, previously-unreleased cover of Sun Ra's "Rocket #9". Made with the dancefloor in mind, NOMO's horn section and percussion blaze into gear after a noisy intro and the track never lets up.

Michigan mate, Matthew Dear (Ghostly Int.) steps up with a very-dancefloor-friendly minimal techo mix of "Nu Tones" on the flip.

Quantic "An Announcement To Answer " (Ubiquity CD/LP)

Playing with the musical notion of call and response "An Announcement to Answer" is the title and sound of the fourth Quantic album, the second released domestically by Ubiquity. Chronicling the ever widening musical world of producer, record collector, musician and DJ Will Holland, aka Quantic, it’s a big sounding shout-out demanding a positive response.

Nino Moschella "The Fix" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

The first time we heard 29 year old Nino Moschella we knew he had that magic touch. Gritty, soulful, and honest, his vocal styling and unique funk-meets-rock-meets-soul productions were a must-have for Ubiquity. Imagine our surprise when we learned that this golden voice belonged to a rough n’tumble Irish-Italian-American character from around the way. Fellow Bay Area crooner Bart Davenport bought Nino Moschella to our attention. He mailed demo tracks that had been recorded at Moschella’s home studio. Working on only a 4-track tape machine, hand claps and broom-stick banging took the place of computer-driven drum loops. Innovating with limited resources his thrifty studio situation provided the perfect dirty back-drop to a fresh vocal talent.

NOMO "New Tones" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

On New Tones home-made Detroit electronics and huge horn sections blast big band funk and riotous jazz. NOMO’s roots are firmly planted in the fertile soil of African polyrhythm and American free jazz, and bandleader Elliot Bergman’s tracks draw inspiration from cultures and generations wildly different than his home setting. In many ways (at least geographically and sonically) NOMO are a distant relative of the TRIBE collective. Undoubtedly they carry the spirit of the legendary Detroit-label’s creative output.

Various Artists "Rewind! 5" (Ubiquity CD/LP)

This Summer we will drop the 5th in our series of Rewind compilations featuring ALL exclusive tracks by 11 of our favorite artists. From ?uestloves’ Randy Watson Experience to the hotly tipped J*Davey the Rewind 5 cover versions include everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys to the Sylvers. The concept of the "Rewind!" compilation series is simple: Ubiquity's favorite artists cover their favorite tracks, revealing influences and bringing classic tunes up to date. Just as with Volume 4, this collection contains 100% cover versions made from scratch (no remixes or re-edits). Only this volume is all brand new, and all exclusive.