Invigorating head music done Rastafarian style by
Cymande.
"Zion I" is a
spiritual chant put to music, setting the mood for
Cymande. A laid-back
"One More" lulls you into subliminal meditation before
"Getting It Back" jolts you into some scintillating
Jamaican funk-
fusion. There's a message in many of
Cymande's cuts, with
"Listen," and
"Bra" (a recognition of the women's lib movement), the most inspiring. Both are sung with passion, and are skillfully executed; the former is slow and painstaking in its message, while
"Bra" slaps you upside the head with a stirring sax solo and bass-fueled vamp. An air of supreme coolness permeates
Cymande, unusual for a first effort written by members of the band.
Cymande sound like they have done this before; nowhere is this more evident than on the beautiful
"Dove," a gorgeous concoction of lead guitar, tambourines, haunting backing vocals, and percussion, with the horns used as sparingly as table-seasoning on a gourmet dish. Along with
"Bra," the group's most popular cut is
"The Message" -- it's difficult keeping body parts still on this grooving mutha. All in all,
Cymande is a marvelous collection that premiered a fine
funk band. ~ Andrew Hamilton
