New Heat! Debut Single from Le'Trell!

Available for pre-order on bandcamp, ships Oct 24!
starcreautreuniversalvibrations.com

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7" and digi

A. Le'Trell - On The One

Miles Bonny - Nuthin But U (Spinnerty remix)

“Crimson” ft. Count Bass D is the first single from Portland producer Roane Namuh’s new Petrichor EP via Liquid Beat Records.  The track features additional keys by Tony Ozier and was recorded in Portland while Count was on tour.

Exclusive Premiere : Roane Namuh "Crimson" Feat. Count Bass D (Liquid Beat Records)

https://soundcloud.com/fredsimonmusic
Just in time for Summer, Inner Ocean and Outrun Records come together to bring you the debut EP of Italian artist Federico Simonetta aka "Fred Simon". Simon’s impeccable production style blends R&B, Hip Hop, Funk and Pop in an effortless and seamless way, with every detail polished into a shiny gem.

Elsewhere is a light and playful journey into the sound worlds of Fred Simon. From the funk driven basslines to the seductive lead synths, these tracks are dripping with fresh sunny vibes and class. On his debut EP, Fred Simon enlists the help of some seasoned vets, from frequent Opolopo collaborator, Amalia, to Jakarta standout and Mndsgn collaborator, Nanna.B. With funk scene staple and Bastard Jazz artist Buscrates coming through for a remix.

Straight summertime anthems, perfect for sunny afternoon cruises with the top down.

LP Vinyl

Fred Simon - Another Picture w/ AMALIA (Buscrates Remix)

Naked (Instrumental)

On their third full-length release, Potatohead People widen the frame of their progressive musical vision and deliver a far-reaching yet approachable set of moods and grooves.

Mellow Fantasy continues to showcase the trademark instrumental prowess of the duo and their ease with the loose but hard-hitting drum style brought to the fore by Jay Dee’s influential productions, but goes well beyond basic boom bap bread and butter, with singer-centered R&B and uptempo bumps sharing the stage. 

Beginning in 2008 as a Vancouver-based hip-hop production team, Potatohead People (Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical) have collaborated with a fantasy league of MCs, including Frank Nitt of Frank’n’Dank (the 2013 breakout jam “Back To My Shit”), Illa J (producing an entire album for J. Dilla’s younger brother) and the late Phife Dawg (the beloved A Tribe Called Quest co-founder’s last recorded verse was over one of their beats).  

Setting them apart from other Dilla-influenced beatmakers is the way they push the scope of the style, working the corners with their own unique touch. At its most basic, “the goal has always been making really dope loops,” they explain. By using slices of their own rough instrumental ideas, finding “a chord progression or texture that you can hear again and again and never question it,” they’ve taken this fundamental concept and elevated it to new levels of melodic, harmonically complex music.

A jazz-like responsiveness to the input of collaborators is a key component of how the team works. “We like to get the artist involved when the beat is an early idea, and build the beat around the vocals, getting inspired by what they do.” 

On Mellow Fantasy, they had some impressive inspiration. Pos from De La Soul immediately connected with “Baby Got Work,” a sophisticated slap that went through several iterations before settling into its ultimate form. Appropriately, the song’s diligent construction echoes the ethic of the grind in the clear-eyed, precisely dovetailed lyrics fans have come to expect from the Daisy Age don. “Baby Got Work” is the album’s lead single, hitting on 9/25/20.

Befitting Potatohead People’s origins as a hip-hop group, cameos from Illa J and Slum Village’s T3 on the summertime teaser “What It Feels Like” and Vancouver veteran Moka Only (the sassy, vanity take-down “Ungodly”) add to the unimpeachable rap bonafides. 

The hometown connections continue with Lotusland local Kapok slinging verses on a couple tracks and rising stars Kendra Dias and Clear Mortifee, who stake serious claims as names to watch with standout vocal turns on the low-slung neo-soul “Break Even” and the upcoming second single “Hidden Levels,” a high-flying house/future boogie hybrid. Following up their successful 2019 collabo “Single Life,” Bunnie makes her return to action with the group on “Kettle Boiling.” Ranging further, Reggie B, who broke on the scene with his lead on Onra’s “High Hopes,” shines on the optimistic bounce of “Bring The World A Little Closer.”

Threaded throughout are interlude instrumentals that comfortably manage the neat trick of being musically intriguing while retaining an accessible, gut-level thump. Look no further than the statement-making, Yussef Kamaal-like funk fusion album opener “1st Light” and their nod to overlooked Vancity synth pioneer Dale Jacobs (“Ode To Mr. Jacobs”) for clues to where Nick and Astro’s hearts are at.

Mellow Fantasy, released 10/30/20 on Bastard Jazz and available on vinyl and all digital platforms, is Potatohead People’s most evolved collection yet, rooted in earthy low end but elevated, expansive and reaching new musical heights.

Mellow Fantasy

Potatohead People - Proof Is In The Pudding

Buy / Stream it here: https://orcd.co/happysongremixes

Following the release of ‘Happy Song’, the first single from forthcoming album ‘Break The Wall’, MF Robots reveal the full extended version of the song alongside remixes from Kenny Dope, Kaidi Tatham and Daz-I-Kue.

It’s only right that Kenny Dope should be the first producer to remix Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph’s new MF Robots project, considering the trio’s shared musical history. Kenny Dope began reworking Jan’s ‘Brand New Heavies’ material back in the early 90’s as one half of Masters At Work, helping the band reach club-land over and over again with a series of iconic remixes, recorded during the golden era of MAW’s output.

It’s no surprise then that there’s more than a hint of that special, Latin sunshine-infused mid-90’s House sound in Kenny’s rework of Happy Song, which showcases Dawn’s impeccable vocals over an infectious rhythm track and ultra-funky horn stabs. An instrumental version of Kenny’s mix is also included for the House purists, as well as the full, extended original version of Happy Song, packed with tight musicianship and more than its fair share of great grooves.

Pioneers of the UK Broken Beat movement and contributors to its most emblematic group, Bugz In The Attic, it seems almost inconceivable that Kaidi Tatham & Daz-I-Kue have never actually worked on a remix together before. As strange as it may sound, it’s true, and their powerhouse rework of ‘Happy Song’ is most definitely worth the wait.

About MF Robots:

Meeting in 2013 while recording and performing with one of the UK’s most commercially successful Acid Jazz bands, legendary UK drummer Jan Kincaid and vocalist Dawn Joseph discovered immediate musical chemistry and began writing songs together right away. They soon left the band to concentrate on their own work, starting MF Robots (Music For Robots) and releasing an eponymous debut in 2018. The album was so well received that the duo soon morphed into a band as they found themselves in-demand at venues and festivals all over Europe.

Forthcoming long player ‘Break The Wall’ represents a new benchmark for Jan and Dawn, reflecting the MF Robots project coalescing and maturing while fine-tuning their material, both on the road and in the studio.

Happy Song Remixes

MF Robots - Happy Song (Kaidi Tatham & Daz-I-Kue Remix)

Buy / Stream here:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2GjGCNF
Apple Music: https://apple.co/3itjJEl
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3ndpF8k

Bandcamp (Order Vinyl LP): https://bit.ly/2FM3FA8

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Neo funk rising star Buscrates aims high with Blasting Off, his 
first full-length album. The Pittsburgh-based keyboard 
cosmonaut has been grabbing ears since his days hooking up 
beats with the hip hop crew East Liberty Quarters, but after 
slinging spicy one-offs to a slew of hot labels like Omega 
Supreme, Voyage Funktastique and Razor N Tape (as well as 
contributing production to Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y’s 2009 
project), the time has come for a full-length featuring his 
growing modern funk repertoire. 
“I’m a ‘90s hip hop dude, but I grew up on that ‘80s funk stuff,” 
Buscrates acknowledges. DJ gigs provided a working 
knowledge of the jams that moved a contemporary crowd, and 
as his collection of keyboards and drum machines grew he 
began blending the best of both decades with his personal 
futuristic edge. “I was nice on the MPC but I wanted to have a 
little more dynamic range with what I was doing,” he notes. The 
self-described “certified synth geek” was soon branching into 
sounds that recalled ‘80s legend Kashif crossed with the hip 
hop bounce of DJ Spinna, and the modern funk community took 
notice. 

For his first full-length, Buscrates has crewed up with an ace 
team of collaborators, featuring vocalist Sally Green on the 
bouncy lead single “Lost And Found” and “Eight Nine.” Kate 
Moe Dee takes over mic duties for the second single, “How Ya 
Gonna Do It,” a slinky groove that slides in place alongside 
groups like the Sunburst Band and Rene & Angela as an 
exemplar of sophisticated R&B. Adding to those credentials are 
the sultry vocals of Anda on “Believe,” but of course, it wouldn’t 
be a Buscrates set without some stank, neck-snapping 

instrumentals. “Five Days” and “Sure Shot,” both collabos with 
the drum technician DJ Epik, will rattle speakers and have 
already been lighting up message boards on recent Buscrates 
DJ sets. Round things out with some easy gliding, jazzy funk 
(“Turn It Out” with Brothermartino on flute and “Evergreen” 
featuring Tony Ozier) and you’ve got all the ingredients for a 
high-flying cosmic ride with Buscrates at the controls.

Buy / Order Vinyl LP

Buscrates - Believe (feat. Anda)

Download

Down

For the last show of the year it would only be right to celebrate all of the great music released within the last 12 months. With a wide selection of Modern Funk, Soul, Jazz Funk though to reissues of forgotten classics/new treasures - it's a good wrap up to a tough year. Featuring a roster of talented artists and musicians including Andre Solomko, Buscrates, The Funky Drive Band, Soul Supreme, Aldorande, Maya Killtron and XL Middleton to name a few!

TRACKLIST:
Andre Solomko - Recalling You (extended disco version)
Buscrates - How Ya Gonna Do It
The Funky Drive Band - Lost Generation
E. Live - Rollin Steady
Ourra & The Gravity Drive - Underneath The Neon Moon
Max Zuckerman - Airplane Girl
Love Touch Family ft Saucy Lady - I Got Your Back (U-Key Re-Touch) 
Temu - Ready or Not
Joanna Rose - Love Affair
Diamond Ortiz - I’m The One You Need
Leonard Charles & Zackery Force Funk - My 45 (7 inches of love)
High Frequency - Summertime
Premonition - Don’t Act Like a Fool
E.S. Funk - Shake your body (at the disco)
Akira Freeze - Tell me baby
Pepin ft Sauce81 - Galaxy Drive
Soul Supreme - Lyrics to Go
Kamaal Williams ft Lauren Faith - Hold On
Yussef Dayes - For My Ladies
Space Ghost - Girl U Hypnotize Me
Special Touch - That Special Touch (625Mix)
Misses Misty - Mellow Mellow Ride On 
Social Lovers - Love Come Down
Tsuruoka Ryu - Omae
Brainstory - Runaway
Henrietta Thomas - I Want You (Right Now)
Aldorande - Summer Body
Dj Frane - Straight to the Head
Maya Killtron - The Middle (Diamond Ortiz Remix)
XL Middleton ft Zackery Force Funk - Shotgun Lover (12” Mix)

S2 EP20 - Last but not least

Buy / Stream here:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3tW1ldt
Apple Music: apple.co/31kpqhM
Amazon Music: amzn.to/3d9ACDx
Bandcamp: bit.ly/3lSp63i

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This forthcoming double A-side single from Kumail, is any many ways an extension of the philosophy behind his 2019 album Yasmin. They draw from the same influences - George Benson, Marvin Gaye, GrandMaster Flash, a whole world of Japanese funk - albeit now in a completely different way. They come from a happier place, picking up from where the album closer dance tune “Ease Up” left off. The funk is evident here; especially on the track "Without You". What blinked to life in moments on Yasmin, now come right to the fore.

All Night / Without You

Kumail - Without You

Inner Ocean Records is a platform and collective for emerging artists to release music and visual art. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the label was conceptualized in 2012 as a vehicle for artists to have their music heard and seen, to build a community of passionate people.  We designed the label to be what we would have loved to have as artists ourselves, redefining the rules in an ebb and flow to the changing landscape of music. We have made a conscious commitment to be transparent, adaptable and always for the people.

We are a label for artists, by artists. 

We’ve built the backbone of this label around great sound and feeling; laid back, honest and forever chill. We have released a lot of different sounds; Ambient, Lofi Hip Hop, RnB, Modern Funk, Future Soul and Indie. Since our inception, we have prioritized natural evolution and organic growth in the music – we value the process and accept change.  Expect the unexpected; we want to delightfully surprise you;)