Review: Various Artists - 10 Years Of Rocksteady Disco Vol. 1 (Rocksteady Disco)

Rocksteady Disco is 10!  Mr PC and a huge support cast has been keeping Detroit dancing for 10 whole years and there's no better way to celebrate than a 4-track 12" with some of their most consistant artists - not one to miss.

We last saw Sol Power All-Stars with their heavily influenced 'Nyah​-​Rock' (see review HERE) and they've done it again with 'Solsibisa' with more than a nod to the Afro-rock-soul-pop pioneers Osibisa (the ones with the prog-rock covers and 'Sunshine Day' outlook - opportune as there's going to be a new re-issue on Cherry Red next month).

We've also seen Eddie Logix in the past (in the form of 'Flight Risk EP' - see review HERE) and here he's latched onto the "It's Not Over" hook that's clearly tuned for the dancefloor before the EP is dubbed out with the sophisticated 'Gratiot Dub' by Topher Horn.

Which leaves the magnificent 'Whispers Of You' clocking in at over 11 minutes from Blair French who had Rocksteady Disco's first double vinyl LP release, 'The Art Of Us' back in 2020 which is a magic combination of Afro-house jazz disco from the leftfield.  'Whispers Of You' is inspired by the Ron Trent's of the world and is Claussellian in groove, which is so "now" with Joe C's recent mixes for Nicola Conte, BBE's Brian Jackson and Audrey Powne).

Don't know how many volumes there are going to be in the 10 year party but you can be sure that Vol. 1 will be a favourite for at least the next decade anniversary.

Artist: Various Artists (Sol Power All-Stars, Eddie Logix, Blair French, Topher Horn)

Title: 10 Years Of Rocksteady Disco Vol. 1

Release date: 8th October, 2024

Label : Rocksteady Disco

Catalog Number : 12" LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Eddie Logix - Flight Risk EP (Rocksteady Disco)

Fans of Detroit's Rocksteady Disco label have been looking forward to today to finally getting their hands on Eddie Logix's 4-track EP, 'Flight Risk'.

If you've ever been spanked on the dance floor by Jimmy "Bo" Horne or jazz carnivaled by Azymuth, 'Sky Dive' has some of the energy to keep you movin' all nite long. 

Label boss and bass player, Peter Croce, makes an appearance on 'Mount Juniper' and he's known for pleasing the "Flute Gang" (squad member No. 3 me, solid at the back end) and we get satifsfied with 'Home Suite' that's got a sexy sax solo to match the stuttering Latin beats - are those cop whistles at the end or is that East London in the house at the Lyceum?

If you've got the Sol Power All-stars tribute 12" to Cymande, 'Nyah-Rock' (also on Rocksteady Disco - see review HERE), you'll know that they know their Afrobeat and 'Missing Pixels' throws in some steel pans; could it be better than 'Sky Dive'?

I mentioned Mr PC adds bass to 'Mount Juniper' and there's some electric guitar from Tim Barrett so get ready for Balearic dub/bizzness on the shores of Lake Michigan with the "Flute Gang" getting on down.

On a cautionary note, real world sky diving is dangerous and should never be done to a soundtrack by Eddie Logix, but if you're out on the town and the DJ has this 12", you're going to be perfectly safe and not listed as a 'Flight Risk'.

Artist: Eddie Logix

Title: Flight Risk EP

Release date: 5th May, 2023

Label : Rocksteady Disco 

Catalog Number : Vinyl 12" / Digital / Bandcamp