When I came across this in the same thrift store stack that I found the Johnny Jenkins LP in, I was completely taken aback. I had only ever seen reissues of this available, and never thought I would find an original copy, much less one in such pristine shape. This is one of those records that stands outside of any easily-assumed labels or categories, with Cymande brewing up a concoction of influences that incorporates everything from funk and soul to reggae, dub, afro-beat, afro-cuban, soukous and calypso. While their hardest-hitting funk cut, “Brothers On The Slide,” is here in all its glory, there is much else to gravitate towards on this LP. “Pon De Jungle” opens up the album with a hypnotic chant, followed by the Mandrill-esque funk of “Equatorial Forest.” “Brothers…” finds one of the vocalists in the group doing their best Curtis Mayfield impression, yet the percussion breakdown in the middle is a clear indicator that this is no windy city soul record. “Changes,” perhaps my favorite song on the album, cultivates a sublime, mellow, meditative mood, awash in languid guitars and a drifting, lazy tempo. Other cuts that stand out are the title track and the closing “Sheshamani,” further proof that Cymande were on to something unique with their heady mix of styles. Why the band never achieved greater success in their own time will forever be a puzzlement, so thank goodness the hip-hop generation picked up on them, even if it was decades later. I will continue to maintain, however, with Cymande and all other obscure artists re-discovered by break-hungry DJ’s—look further than the samples. There is untold wealth lying beneath the facile surface of your favorite drum-break.
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