Cymande returning after 40 year absence with "A Simple Act of Faith"

Cymande (pronounced Sah-mahn-day) was a legendary funk group formed in 1971 in London by musicians from Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Vincent. Their name was derived from a calypso word for Dove, symbolizing peace and love. The band were signed by producer John Schroeder to his Alaska label and Janus Records in the States. American audiences took to them immediately, where debut single ‘The Message’ was a hit, prompting two US tours.

Cymande went on to release three acclaimed albums in the early-to-mid 1970s, entitled Cymande, Second Time Round and Promised Heights, boasting hits like the aforementioned ‘The Message’, ‘Bra’, ‘Dove’ and ‘Brothers On The Slide’ (much-sampled by hip-hop acts De La Soul, The Fugees, Gang Starr et al). Their fusion of funk, jazz, African music and blues remains unique.

Following some well-received reunion shows in the UK and on the continent, Cymande is now back with the first album in four decades, reuniting original members such as Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio with John Schroeder. A Simple Act of Faith will be released on November 27. These ten new songs were recorded in the UK, with the first sessions dating back to 2011. But despite its four-year development, the album boasts a unity which harks back to their 70s heyday. Here is the track list for A Simple Act of Faith.  

1. EVERYBODY TURN RASTA

2. DO IT (THIS TIME WITH FEELING)

3. CRAZY GAME

4. SEA OF TEARS

5. ALL OR NOTHING

6. NO WEEPING

7. GOD’S HIGHWAY

8. A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION

9. A SIMPLE ACT OF FAITH

10. EVERYBODY’S DOING ALRIGHT