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One of the most captivating albums we've heard on Ubiquity in a long time -- and one of the most gentle, too! Damon Aaron's a wonderfully skilled singer/songwriter -- one with a pensive, quiet sort of feel -- but never in ways that are sleepy or noodly. Instead, he brings a bit of soul to his... read more

Jazzy soul and cosmic grooves served up warmly by Afro Elements -- their long awaited full length debut for the Freestyle label! Afro Elements does a pretty sweet job of blending diverse elements for an expansive, but somehow tightly groovy sound -- recalling the funky keyboards groove of prime... read more

Man, Akiko always knows how to keep things interesting -- always moving between different genres and styles, to serve up a fresh new groove with each release! This set's got the singer hitting a host of British rock tunes, mostly from the 80s -- doing them with a harder edge than you might expect... read more

Sweet modern soul from Philip Alexander -- a singer with smoothly commanding vocal approach the swept us in right away -- here dropping one of strongest nusoul efforts we've heard in a long time! Philip's rich vocal arrangements are the lead element throughout -- and he has an excellent way of... read more

A fantastic album from Gerald Alston -- a tribute to the mighty Sam Cooke, but one that's sung with lots of Alston's own charm as well! We're normally not big fans of tribute sets like this, but the setting turns out to be a perfect one for Gerald -- a batch of classic tunes, recorded with a... read more

An uplifting blend of laidback, percolating spacey soul & jazz atmosphere with direct, resonant vocals from Michelle Amador! The sound is a mix of live instrumentation and programmed elements, and it's a natural synthesis -- and Michelle has the voice that works just as well in mellow club... read more

One of the greatest cosmic soul tunes of the 21st century so far -- a snapping keys-on-beats number from Amp Fiddler, destined to reopen Detroit as the new soul capitol of the world! The Blacksmith mix of the tune adds in a bit heavier R&B groove (as you'd guess from the title), especially in... read more

A cool 4 track sampler of mellow spare neo classic soul off India Arie's debut LP. Wrapped up in a really cool envelope styled picture sleeve -- and you get 2 copies of the 12" in the package! Sweet!... read more

Chapter two, and an even deeper set than India Arie's first Testimony album -- a record that shows a lot of growth in India's music, and a style that's even more mature and righteous than before! Arie's acoustic guitar is a key part of the instrumentation, and the album features a fair bit of... read more

Chapter two, and an even deeper set than India Arie's first Testimony album -- a record that shows a lot of growth in India's music, and a style that's even more mature and righteous than before! Arie's acoustic guitar is a key part of the instrumentation, and the album features a fair bit of... read more

2 tracks from Kissey Asplund -- neither of which are on her full length debut! "Move Me" is a totally great cut -- one that steps along with keyboards heavy on the rhythm -- almost in a 70s-styled soul mode, but with some of Kissey's spacey contemporary touches mixed in for good measure -... read more

Sweet sweet work from Teodross Avery -- a musician who's way more than the smooth jazz player you might expect! Teodross steps out here as a mini-maestro in soul -- writing and producing the whole album with a well-rounded, soul-based approach that has Teo in the lead on saxes -- but also makes... read more

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Produced by Jay Dee.... read more

A great little tune from Erykah Badu -- smooth, mellow, with a nice downtempo vibe, but still a warm finish that works perfectly with her voice! This is the kind of tune that made us all fall in love with her right away -- and which still sounds great years later!... read more

A nice one from Badu -- one with a depth of feeling and genuine soulful vibes that live up to its title, despite the fact that she records for one of the world's biggest media conglomerates! It's all about the vibe here. Erykah rolls her syllables, scats and emotes feelings more than an actual... read more

A tasty bit of smooth jazz from the Passion label -- in a mode that's similar to some of their other recent acts, like Niteflite or the Jazz Steppers. The group's led by the team of drummer Roger Odell and keyboardist Jamie Odell -- and in their best moments, they remind us of late 70s jams on the... read more

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An excellent upbeat club number -- sung in Japanese by the lovely Bird, and produced by Shinichi Osawa of Mondo Grosso. The track's probably one of our favorites from Bird's latest LP -- and it's got these kick-start beats at the beginning that are mixed with burst of strings that sound totally... read more

The third single from Bird's excellent Mind Travel LP -- and a sweet mellow soul number that's more downtempo than previous singles, which are a bit more house oriented. The Mad Professor remix has a lover's rock sound that's really great -- complete with lots of dubby effects, and some nice... read more

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The Heavies' jazz funk groove is given a bit of a modern R&B kick in this promo-only single from the mid 90s. Still pretty strong all the way through -- even if it is a bit of pandering for the US market -- but the guitar instrumental's nice!... read more

A motherlode of rare tracks from The Brand New Heavies -- a 2CD collection of their club and house remixes over the years, most of which were originally only issued on 12" singles! Although the Heavies' core groove has always been great enough to make their best albums instant classics, the... read more

The Brand New Heavies are heavier than ever here -- heard in a sweet set of club tracks and remixes from their big early 90s years on the US market -- all with the sort of grooves that helped them cross over big at the time! The core, classic funk that the Brand New Heavies first brought into play... read more

A key addition to any collection of The Brand New Heavies! The set features remixes of some of the group's best tracks, plus a few older and rarer cuts, and some other favorites. Titles include "Mind Trips (BNH rmx)", "Bang", "Brother Sister (Angel rmx)", "Keep... read more

N'Dea Davenport returns to the Brand New Heavies -- and the result is one of the greatest records from the group in many many years! The sound's here is totally wonderful -- a real return to the classic funk of the Brand New Heavies' roots -- and having N'Dea back in the vocal chair, it's almost... read more

The mighty Tom Moulton takes on the Brand New Heavies -- and the results are completely sublime! We totally loved the BNH album Get Used To It -- as it was a real return to the best funky soul of their roots -- but this Tom Moulton version sounds even better, with an even heavier, more hard-hitting... read more

A great album gets even better -- as The Brand New Heavies' excellent Get Used To It set is re-invigorated here by the talents of a host of great remixers! The album's presented almost like one of those classic Delicious Vinyl double-12" singles from years back -- with multiple remixes of... read more

The Brand New Heavies, Live In London, and very much at the top of their game! Ever since the group reformed with singer N'Dea Davenport, they've really sounded great -- returned strongly to their tight funky roots, without any of the mis-steps of the middle period -- as you'll hear in this great... read more

Till Bronner's debut -- and a set that has the trumpeter working in much more jazz-based territory than on some of his later records! Bronner's horn still has plenty of soul here, and it's wrapped up in backings that definitely have the Till touch -- but the album's an all-instrumental affair,... read more

The deepest album we've heard in years from Till Bronner -- a beautiful collection of Brazilian-tinged tunes, performed with a host of wonderful guest stars! Bronner plays his usual trumpet, and also sings a bit too -- in that warmly raspy voice that we first grew to love during his Chet Baker... read more

The long-overdue release of Inside My Love -- a sublime little set recorded by Trina Broussard in the late 90s -- originally planned for the So-So Def label, but never properly issued at the time! The album's years ahead of most soul of the time -- a great precursor to the Neo Soul explosion that... read more

Oakland's Kofy Brown is back with the righteous, moody and hard grooving Soul Rock -- a solid set that takes more of a live band approach -- focused on a unique soul sound, with some funk and little bit of rock! We heard raves about Kofy's live show before we even heard the first album, so it's a... read more

The genius of Terry Callier -- remixed! One of the greatest things to happen to Chicago soul legend Callier in recent years was his discovery by a host of cutting edge producers and DJs on the European scene -- important talents who took his work to a whole new audience, by fusing Terry's original... read more

The title might tangle your tongue, but GC Cameron's vocals are plenty darn smooth throughout -- surprisingly great work that has this 70s soul legend sounding almost as great as on his classic early work for Motown! Cameron's sense of soul hasn't dimmed a bit over the years -- and the lean,... read more

A loosely grooving set of tunes steeped in gritty blue eyed soul, west coast funk, and a wealth of classic soul & groove rock influences from coast-to-coast by Danny Chaimson & The 11th Hour -- led by keyboardist & vocalist Chaimson and featuring members of Orgone, Connie Price &... read more

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Striking work from MJ Cole -- one of the most important British producers of the past few years, a key part of the two step sound, and an artist whose work is taking a major role in the future of soul music! The album features Cole working with a host of great guest stars -- including Jill Scott,... read more

80s-styled soul from Cool Million -- a contemporary duo, but one with a great ear for the classic sounds of the past! There's a fair bit of keyboard and bassline interplay on the set -- very much in the best spirit of the 80s groove generation, especially some of the less hit-oriented work of the... read more

Spacey soul from Coultrain -- an up-and-coming singer from the St Louis scene, and one with a really unique sort of sound! The album's a wonderful debut effort -- far more mature and complex than you might expect, with a really cosmic feel that's somewhere between 70s spacey soul and some of the... read more

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Pure niceness on this first single from the Voodoo LP, produced by Premier.... read more

With Redman & Method Man.... read more

There's definitely a future feel going on here -- spacey keyboards, bits of electronics, and a crackling sort of sound in the rhythms -- all a perfect foil for the vocals in the set! The album's even more electric and dynamic than recent work from London or Detroit -- very far off in space, with a... read more

A beautiful little record from UK soul singer Victor Davies -- a really unique artist who's as steeped in folk and Brazilian styles as he is in soul! The album was written, arranged, and produced by Victor -- done completely in his own style, with a warmth and sense of creativity that's instantly... read more

Davina's debut LP, cut in the late 90s at a time when the neo-classic soul movement was still getting rolling. The sound here is not fully in the nusoul mode, but the songs are all not only written by Davina, but also produced and performed entirely by her, and though there is some hip hop and... read more

Great soul from maestro James Day -- working here with a variety of different singers to realize his well-crafted groove! The set's got the perfect balance of mainstream and underground that you'll find on other albums from the Expansion label -- polished enough to take it past the indie... read more

Karl Denson's come a long way here since his earlier funk sides from years back -- and for the record, his tiny universe gets expanded nicely by the addition of Meshell Ndegeocello on bass! The groove here is rich and full -- almost a late 60s funky soul approach -- but harder than we're used to... read more

Underground soul from Gary Des Etages -- a tight little debut that's stepped in classic influences, and very nicely put together! Gary's clearly inspired by the 70s work of Stevie, Marvin, and Donny -- but also is willing to work in an updated R&B format to get his message across -- stepping... read more

An infectious batch of soul tunes from Raheem DeVaughn -- his long overdue debut for Jive Records! Raheem stands apart from many in the mainstream soul and neo soul, not because he wears his influences so proudly on his sleeve, but in the way he wears them. Raheem's soul style is born of love for... read more

Wicked work from the Chicago scene -- a batch of amazingly soulful grooves from DJ Inc & The Soul People! We've been digging Inc's music for years, and have really watched him grow from a simple beatmaker into a guy with a great ear for a slinky, smooth-stepping soul tune -- and this time... read more

Slinky soul from Tomas Doncker -- an up-and-coming songwriter with a strong vision for his own music! Doncker's got a style that's proud, but never too cocky -- a laidback, but confident approach to his music -- and one that really comes through in his vocals. He also plays guitar on the set too -... read more

Warmly acoustic soul from Tomas Doncker -- an artist who sounds even better here than on his last release, with a slightly folksy undercurrent that reminds us a bit of Terry Calier! Doncker's songwriting is even more personal than before -- really taking some chances that are a nice change from... read more

"Destined To Be A Modern Soul Classic" says the sticker on the front -- and for once, they finally got it right! The album's the first-ever full length from Donnie -- a brilliant young soul singer who's been bubbling out of the Atlanta scene over the past few years, and who has only... read more

A mindblowing second album from Conya Doss -- a singer who first came to our attention a few years back, then got lost amidst the politics of major label shuffling -- but who's thankfully reemerged here with a fantastic new sound! Over the past few years, Conya's picked up a groove that's got a... read more

The amazing first album from Conya Doss -- a groundbreaking album from the first wave of the Neo Soul revolution -- finally back out on CD! On this first album, Conya's already at the top of her game -- really moving forward past more familiar modes of singers like Jill Scott or Erykah Badu -- and... read more

Wonderful work from Drea -- a singer with strong roots in contemporary gospel, but a strong urban sound overall! Drea's got a nice sort of warmth to her music -- a sense of flow that's really great, and which is a long way from gospel -- much more gentle overall, and with a personal quality that... read more

An excellent blend of contemporary R&B -- with a beat-heavy sound that's clearly in the lineage of Mary J Blige, but with an underground feel that keeps things really fresh throughout. Driza's got a voice that won't quit, with the kind of range and strength of Jocelyn Brown in her classic... read more

Another great little left coast leftfield nusoul effort from Dudley Declaime Perkins, who we once kind of thought as the ODB of neo classic soul (we meant it as a compliment, btw). Just as you might hope, Dudley leans a little more heavily on a healthy dose of rhyme vocalese rather than smooth... read more

Stripped down, hazy, funky hip hop from Dudley Perkins -- rolling in heavy funk beats, spare piano particles, and in a gritty hip hop mode for the most part! It seems to us the Dudley is rhyming more in this solid effort than singing, and he's bringing in more social and spiritual conciousness,... read more

Stripped down, hazy, funky hip hop from Dudley Perkins -- rolling in heavy funk beats, spare piano particles, and in a gritty hip hop mode for the most part! It seems to us the Dudley is rhyming more in this solid effort than singing, and he's bringing in more social and spiritual conciousness,... read more

The long awaited debut album from DWH -- a UK combo we've been digging on singles, finally stepping into the light with their first full length statement! DWH have a deeply righteous sound that blends together jazz with bits of soul -- all served up in a blend that's never forced, and never done... read more

The first set we've heard from Don E in a few years -- but it's really been worth the wait, as he's really deepened his sound on this set! Some of the more mainstream modes of Don's previous work have been shaken off nicely -- and his overall vibe's a bit hipper this time around, and more fitting... read more

The massive second album from Adriana Evans -- head and shoulders above her debut! The sound here is a lot more complicated than on the first LP -- with a righteous vibe that mixes together elements we never would have expected in her previous work! Adriana's working here with longtime... read more

One of the heaviest house albums we've heard from Peven Everett in years -- a set that's filled with upbeat, joyous grooves -- all done with the same deep soul you'd expect from other recent records! The whole thing's a great step back towards some of the classic grooves from Everett's Chicago... read more

Sublime soul from Peven Everett -- a beautifully-crafted album that moves well beyond some of his homemade productions of recent years! This set's got all the silky soul that first made us love Peven's music -- that open, flowing groove that's almost organic, and which makes you feel like Everett's... read more

Contains "Run Around", "Far Away" & "You Are To Me".... read more

The first album we've heard in years from The Family Stand -- a group we first started loving for their chunky rhythms nearly two decades ago -- and who've kept on growing strongly over the years! The sound here is quite fresh at times -- a synthesis of the group's roots and some more contemporary... read more

A really great little album -- and light years from the straight torch tribute you might expect! Laika Fatien's working here with bold piano help from Robert Glasper -- a player whose soulful, flowing tones have made his Blue Note albums some real recent treasures in our collections -- and whose... read more

An instant classic -- the debut album by Lizz Fields, one of the freshest talents we've heard from the Philly scene in years! Lizz has a style that starts with the hip laidback soul of Jill Scott -- lots of low beats and keyboards underneath street smart vocals with a bit of an edge -- but she's... read more

Sweet modern soul with a bit of a sunny 80s groove from Shae Fiol -- a NYC via Portland singer who some of the lighter, effervescent touches of earlier pop soul, but without falling into throwback cliché and feeling very much of the here and now. The sounds mix kind of sparkling, subtle synth... read more

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Spacey soul, keys, and strains of underground hip hop from Fleur Earth -- with a range of sounds from soul beats and sweet vocals, to a grittier vibe! The vocals are mostly in German, so we can really just speak for the mood and the groove -- and both work for us! The sounds range from laidback... read more

Spacey soul, keys, and strains of underground hip hop from Fleur Earth -- with a range of sounds from soul beats and sweet vocals, to a grittier vibe! The vocals are mostly in German, so we can really just speak for the mood and the groove -- and both work for us! The sounds range from laidback... read more

Spacey soul from Fleur Earth -- a completely compelling artist described by the label as "Minnie meets Madlib in Cologne" -- with a sound that's pretty darn close to that description! Crunchy beats are mixed with lovely female vocals -- mostly sung in German, which gives them a weird... read more

The debut album from Floetry -- a sweet batch of NuSoul tunes with a street harmony feel! The pair are London-bred, spent time in Atlanta's hotly bubbling scene, and are now part of the massive Philly underground that's been rocking the world over the past few years. This debut more than puts... read more

A group with a sound as fluid as their name -- and one who's spacily soulful, but always with a straight ahead groove! There's a brilliance here we haven't heard in a long time -- a mix of jazz phrasing, skittish rhythms, and some complicated changes that make Flowrider's music fresher than most... read more

There's no escaping the Detroit in the grooves here -- as the album's got a classic sound that stretches back to the city's crossover days at the end of the 60s -- that magical time when soul, rock, and funk acts were playing to the same crowds all over town -- and breaking down a lot of musical... read more

A solo debut from Karl Frierson -- formerly known as the lead singer in De Phazz, stepping out here on his own as more conventional soul artist! At the best moments, the record bubbles with some of the electric 70s soul that was beginning to show in the De Phazz sound of the last few records -- an... read more

A wonderfully soulful set that instantly gets past Gemma Genazzano's cheesecake image on the cover -- and a record that features both English and Spanish language lyrics, which is quite a change for a Neo Soul set! Gemma's got some great help on the record from Marlon Saunders -- and the whole... read more

Astral soul, spacey hip hop and funked out grooves from Ms One & The Gang -- aka Georgia Anne Muldrow and a stellar roster of guests, as well as alter egos and pseudonyms for both Georgia and fellow traveler Dudley Perkins -- including Stacey Epps, Black Milk & Big Pooh, Ms One (Georgia),... read more

Sweet, laidback modern soul from Gianna -- warm, sophisticated, and with some jazzy touches -- produced by Kendall Duffie of Kloud 9, and with a sound that's floats nicely in that kind of easygoing mode! Gianna hails from Texas, but she has a universal style, with a casual, elegant sound -- with... read more

Nothing medicinal here, at least not in the way we remember as kids -- nothing bitter or off-putting, as Preston Glass has a sound that's every bit as smooth as his name! Preston's a producer with a few decades of mainstream soul and jazz work under his belt -- famous recordings with big name... read more

A round two knockout for Gnarls Barkley -- an album we think is better than the landmark St Elsewhere LP -- boisterous pop art & soul from Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo! We were slightly trepid when the Odd Couple was announced, fearing a hasty attempt to rekindle the magic that clearly caught... read more

A synthy soul funk project from the team of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo -- a set that's just trippy enough -- and it's possibly the best full length from either party, ever! You don't need us to tell you that DM has had a finger in a handful of the best fringe pop/leftfield hip hop projects of the mid... read more

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Mixes by King Britt, DJ Cam, and Jay Denes.... read more

Featuring Slick Rick, with production on both the LP & remix by ?uestlove of the Roots.... read more

Smooth yet funky jazz from Chicago saxophonist Chris Greene -- a set that's done in a style that certainly has some classic references, and which comes off well in the stripped-down sound of the group. Chris is working here with a lineup that includes electric bass and keyboards -- plus some extra-... read more

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Great work from the Chicago Steppers scene -- normally built around older music or imports, but occasionally a great source for new soul music as well! This set's the soundtrack to the Next Level DVD, but it actually stands even more strongly on its own -- a great set of mellow numbers that have... read more

The only album ever from Groove Theory -- but the set that introduced the world to Amel Larrieux -- whose vocal talents alone are worth the price of admission! The feel here is a bit more mainstream soul than some of Amel's later work -- but given the mid 90s date of release, the sound is still... read more

Pretty great stuff from Russell Gunn -- a jazz musician who's always bringing something soulful to the table! This time around, there's some great keyboards in the mix -- played by Orrin Evans, and used in ways that are sometimes funky, sometimes spacey -- and always a great mix with Gunn's... read more

A-side produced by the Neptunes featuring Kelis, B-side by Premier, with Donell Jones.... read more

The first album in a few years from the (still!!!) underappreciated Anthony Hamilton -- an artist who emanates deep, true soulfulness from every breath -- and balances classic southern soul styles with hip hop era production as deftly as anyone! Point Of It All might be Anthony's best album yet,... read more

A sublime set of contemporary soul -- headed up by drummer/producer Steve Harvey, and featuring vocals by a host of great guests who include Donnie, Ledisi, N'Dambi, Rahsaan Patterson, KK, and others! Steve's been kicking things up strongly on the west coast for a number of years -- lending his... read more

A pair of classic funky soul styled numbers from Ann Arbor, MI's Mayer Hawthorne -- whose earlier 10-inch EP for Stones Throw came out of nowhere and kind of blew us away, and this follow up 12-inch is just as great, and even more indebted to 70s soul sounds! "Maybe So, Maybe No" starts... read more

The full length debut of Mayer Hawthorne for Stones Throw -- with both classic Motown and 60s & 70s Detroit indie soul influences, done the right way, and all of it wonderful and true to his heroes -- after some promising early singles, we can now say emphatically that Mayer Hawthorne is indeed... read more

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