Cymande…. The FUNKROCKSOULREGGAESKA Band
In 1972 some 31 years ago a groove resonated from the speakers of my fathers stereo system. Part rock part reggae part funk part jazz but entirely organic is the best way to describe the sound that he heard. Some 14 years ago that same sound appeared but this time it was resonating from my sound system it sounded just as organic remixed by an amazing group that would changed the face of hip-hop with songs like “Change of Speak” & “Me myself and I”. That group was responsible for me discovering this group.
In my crate digging days I would look for every record that De La Soul sampled and that is how I found Cymande. A group that recorded music that is timelessly funky. Cymande fused the sound of reggae rock jazz funk and created a sound that was undeniably unclassifiable.
On Cymande’s 1972 self-titled debut the 9-piece Guyanese & Jamaican band by way London, England gave us songs like “Bra” which was impeccably funky and showcased every instrument that was in the band flawlessly. Bra from the first note to the last moved you with it’s off beat bassline but in the pocket drumming and tight horns. There is no wonder that this has become a favorite of club d.j’s who spin anything from house music to soul music. The track breaks of into a fiery horn solo that conjures up visions of Jamaican dancehalls were the band just lets loose and the chocolate brown natives dance as if in a trance by the playing. And who could forget the bassline break probably one of the most recognizable grooves in black music yet the group continues to remain a bit obscure. Another standout track on this album is the slow burning groove of “Dove” which starts out with just a bass and a guitar sounding
as if it’s teasing one another and the congas are there to instigate the teasing. The track begins to pick up in speed until it reaches a feverous pitch and the players have no choice but to participate by way of an almost tribal chant that mimics the very notes they play. Mid way through they track the song breaks down as the guitar and bass call a brief truce only to have the drums and the voices of the band instigate the teasing again. Dove is a beautiful piece of music plain and simple.
The rest of the album is just as infectious as Dove and Bra. On “The Message”, which showed up in 1990 on Masta Ace’s “Me & the Biz”, Cymande bring the groove down a notch as well as the bass let the keys, vocals, and horns shine for a moment. On “Rastafarian Folk Song” the band pays homage to their African and Caribbean roots with an bass laden groove.
Some 36 years ago my father grooved to it and some 19 years ago I grooved to it I hope that it won’t take you as many years to discover this amazing treasure. And if you can’t find it dust off your 3ft High & Rising album and put on “Change of Speak”
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