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: Sol Power All-Stars - Nyah​-​Rock (Rocksteady Disco)

There's a lot of interest in the band Cyamande at the moment with the release of their biop film (see details below) but some folks have loved this band for many years and here's something that really prooves it that's coming out on Rocksteady Disco.

Now you don't have to subscripe to Wax Poetics to know of Cymande, even if you don't recognise the name you'll have heard their music on the dancefloor from top DJs like DJ Shadow, Mr Scruff, Gilles Peterson to Bob Hill (BBE, TWR. A.MA and collector of Polish issued Cymande LPs), DJ Chris Wheatley (60MPC, Camden and new friend of Rainer Trüby - more of whom very soon) and Peter Croce!

Who's Peter Croce you might ask?  Well he's the head honcho of Rocksteady Disco and post-covid, he's now re-establishing himself as a go-to DJ for all the best parties over the US (recently having played at Razor 'n' Tape's big 10 year birthday bash in NYC).

So it's his label that's releasing thier own tribute to Cymande with 'Nyah-Rock' by Sol Power All-Stars; a mini-supergroup in their own right that features keyboard wiz Daniel Meinecke.  I've been after this release for what seems like 6 months ever since Peter teased us with a preview of 'Genevieve' on one of his radio shows.

The actual release comes as a 5 track special with 'Genevieve' as two magnificent versions; a vocal version featuring Zeek Burse with the Ibibio Horn Section and an organ dub mix.  Whilst I'm saying this is cover version of the year, let's not overlook the rest of the tracks as there's two version's of 'Anthracite' (the dub is like FK NYC 'white label' special) plus the funk-rock-groover, 'Getting It Back' featuring Jean-Francis Varre who really gives it some.

No news as yet of a cover version of 'BRA' but you can hear 'Genevieve' on Pete's recent posting Sol Power Meets Rocksteady Disco At MotorCity Wine 2022/08/07 but then, I think you'll agree, "girl" needs the vinyl version with the brillaint artwork!

Hoping to get a little closer to Peter regarding the label in the near future so stay tuned (so to speak).

Artist: Sol Power All-Stars 

Title: Nyah​-​Rock

Release date: 28th November, 2022

Label : Rocksteady Disco

Catalog Number : 12" LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Links:

https://www.docnrollfestival.com/