50 years after they disbanded, London-based collective Cymande are back with a grave and infectiously groovy record. It’s another turn in the fascinating tale of a band both underappreciated and widely revered.

Formed by bassist Steve Scipio and guitarist Patrick Patterson in 1971, Cymande released albums in ‘72, ‘73, and ‘74. A prolific period, sure, but they resonated more with American audiences than UK listeners and stopped making music shortly after. In the decades since, their renown rippled as artists everywhere, from disco to hip-hop, sampled the band’s slick rhythms. Now Cymande are back, and Renascence isn’t just a revival of long-dormant sound, it’s a sizzling statement of intent.

The eight current members are from across London’s Afro-Caribbean community, combining funk, soul, reggae, rock and jazz into a record that oozes experience. There’s a conflict at its heart, with battle-scarred souls looking at the modern, frantic world. Opener ‘Chasing An Empty Dream’ sets the tone with a throbbing bassline, shimmying maracas, and forlorn, weary lyrics —  “everyone chasing fame with no message”. Though an exquisite example of musical icons mingling with new talent, Celeste’s silky crooning on ‘Only One Way’ has a similarly exasperated edge.

But positivity prevails. After all, Cymande means ‘dove’ in calypso — a symbol of peace and hope almost ever-present in their music. “We keep rolling on, with no rhyme or reason” accompanies fierce guitar licks and crispy cymbal work on ‘How We Roll’. ‘Coltrane’ is a rich tapestry homage to the artist and activist, with a chorus that typifies the album’s intent: “Music is the message creation sent.”

The instrumentation is terrific. ‘Sweeden’ is straight funk with layered horn melodies and a delectable sax interlude. ‘I Wanna Know’ has soaring strings, while ‘Road to Zion’ houses some of the album’s finest soulful vocals, an orchestral intro leading to religious rumination and the will to “say the words left unspoken”.

Cymande say plenty with this release. With its pure groove and intriguing wisdom, Renascence doesn’t feel like an album destined to fly under the radar.

Renascence was released via BMG on 31/01. You can purchase your copy HERE
For a deeper dive into the band's legendary journey, check out Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande