Cymande

Formed in the early 1970s (around 1971-72) by Patrick Paterson and Steve Scipio in London, this multi-member band never got the success their absolutely unique brand of soully, funky reggae tinged music deserved. Even now there is nothing really that sounds like Cymande. They were/are totally impossible to categorise. 

The sound quality and playing on this, a compilation of all three of the band's seventies albums is top notch, full of atmosphere. As for the individual albums, they are - 

Cymande - 1972

Zion I/One More/Getting It Back/Listen/Rickshaw/Dove/Bra/The Message/Rastafarian Folk Song

Second Time Around - 1973

Anthracite/Willie's Headache/Genevieve/Trevorgus/To You/For Baby Ooh/Fug/Crawshay/Bird/Them And Us

Promised Heights - 1974 

Pon De Dungle/Equatorial Forest/Brothers On The Slide/Changes/Breezeman/Promised Heights/Losing Ground/Leavert/The Recluse/Sheshamani

A Simple Act Of Faith - 2015*

Everybody Turn Rasta/Do It (This Time With Feeling)/Crazy Game/Sea Of Tears/All Or Nothing/No Weeping/God's Highway/A Moment For Reflection/A Simple Act Of Faith/Everybody's Doing Alright

*The last album was a comeback release from 2015 that is also really good. 

Personal highlights from the classic years are the infectious grooves of  Rickshaw, Dove, Bra, Pon De Dungle, Zion I, Anthracite, Losin' Ground, Bird and the marvellous, often-sampled Brothers On The Slide. To be honest, I could pick out any of the tracks on any of the albums - there's simply nothing bad on any of them. Just listen the wonderful bass and percussion blend on One More. 

Apparently, as I mentioned earlier, much of their music has been "sampled". I wouldn't really know. Their music stands up well enough to be listened to in its own right. 

As I said, I find it impossible to quite describe Cymande's music. I would suggest listening to it online, realising how good it is, then buying it. No messing around. 

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