At this year's Newport Jazz Festival, I was surprised to see Cymande on the bill. Due to one thing and another, I missed the first two or three songs, but what I did see was a strong and well played set.
For the mere three years they existed in the early 1970s, Cymande were one of the very best bands on the planet, that most people never heard. They expertly combined a unique mixture of Jazz, Curtis Mayfield conscious Funk, Rasta spirituality, African-inspired percussion and melodic hooks for days.
They were popular in the urban club scenes of New York, London, Paris, and Rome. I'm told outside of London clubs, Cymande didn't get much traction in their British homeland (Glam may have played a part in this), and broke up disillusioned. I remember Cymande being the darlings of DJs in the early 70s after hours clubs, here in Manhattan.
For the mere three years they existed in the early 1970s, Cymande were one of the very best bands on the planet, that most people never heard. They expertly combined a unique mixture of Jazz, Curtis Mayfield conscious Funk, Rasta spirituality, African-inspired percussion and melodic hooks for days.
They were popular in the urban club scenes of New York, London, Paris, and Rome. I'm told outside of London clubs, Cymande didn't get much traction in their British homeland (Glam may have played a part in this), and broke up disillusioned. I remember Cymande being the darlings of DJs in the early 70s after hours clubs, here in Manhattan.
In the 1990s, they started getting sampled by the biggest names in hip hop. Since the
1990s, they have reformed in various permutations up to and including
the full lineup for various gigs and recordings. Their 2016 comeback album, 'A Simple Act of Faith', which wasn't a bad album, but the attempt to modernize their sound, didn't capture them well.
In 2024, Cymande went into the studio and recorded 'Renascence', which recaptures their signature sound. It delivers nostalgic funk grooves, a nod to John Coltrane, improvisational jams, and saxophone contributions from guest artist Denys Baptiste. There's also a vocal contribution from neo soul singer/songwriter, Celeste. British DJ, music producer, and founder of music collective Soul II Soul, Jazzie B, puts in a spoken word performance on the album's single, "How We Roll".
The album has a gorgeous, crystal clear sound (the freeload is a 24bit vinyl rip).
For the freeload, what's your favorite musical comeback?
Love that album - got it right after it was released. Don't miss out on this one, guys.
ReplyDeleteComeback may not accurately describe this, but there was a Brazilian vocal trio that released 3 amazing lps in the late 60s, early 70s, that won tons of critical praise, and got little to no public acclaim. Fast forward to 2023, and someone decides to release an lp of their's that had sat in a vault somewhere, and after 2 of the 3 original members had died. Critical support is reborn and finally an audience is found, but only one singer survives to carry the torch. Os Tincaos.
Charles Lloyd! His comeback in the 1980s after some years
ReplyDeleteas teacher for TM was so great. With Michel Petrucciani on piano he found a "partner in crime".
Though her comeback was less musically satisfying to me than her earlier work, it was undeniable that Tina Turner's rebirth was galactic in impact. And a great kiss off to her abusive yet brilliant ex.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased when Bonnie Raitt managed to escape the commercial doldrums with Nick of Time, and the music was pretty good too!
ReplyDeleteI think Doc At The Radar Station was a musical comeback for Captain Beefheart & the follow up, Ice Cream For Crow was also very strong. Thanks Babs
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ReplyDeleteBabs, I was hoping you would report back on Cymande, and my wish came true.
ReplyDeleteBeefheart, Bonnie, Tina Turner -- all great comebacks. One of the more interesting comeback STORIES (regardless of whether you like the music) is about a British band called Panchiko (spelled with N before C). They drew very little attention during their brief existence in the late 1990's. In 2016, a copy of their demo was found in a charity shop and posted online. The CDr had suffered disc rot, which added to the music's appeal for some listeners. The demo only included the band members' first names, and online efforts to find them grew until 2020, when contact was finally made.
The members of Panchiko were unaware of their online fame. The demo was remastered and reissued with the "degraded" CDr versions as bonus tracks. In 2022, the reissue became the second highest selling release on Bandcamp. Three of the original members reunited, toured the US five times, headlined in their hometown of Nottingham, and have been making new music. Next month they tour the US again, then play in Mexico City, Paris and London in November.
It's a story similar to "Searching For Sugar Man" (another heartwarming comeback, and a great documentary film). As for Panchiko's music, it might appeal more to your children or grandchildren. My two kids really like it. Hear for yourself:
https://panchiko.bandcamp.com/
Jonder, thanks for reminding us of the wonders at Bandcamp.
ReplyDeleteThe comebacks above are good ones to remember, but for me, the first that came to mind was Jerry Garcia, back on stage on Dec. 15, 1986 after his diabetic coma. Huge credit to Merle Saunders, who had the guts, tenacity, compassion, and human kindness to help Jerry relearn his music and push him into relearning how to play guitar. Nobody in the band or the Grateful Dead family stepped up in the same way (although some of that may have been that Merle was the first to see the need and filled it well). I sometimes listen to Jerry Garcia Band, and have owned a copy of Saunders/Garcia "Live at the Keystone" LPs for many years -- but frankly, I'd rather listen to the Grateful Dead most of the time. Regardless, Merle accomplished a number of things in his career, but none was more important than his help to a friend.
...Help which lead to "Touch of Grey," the "In The Dark" album, and a transformation of the Dead scene which was huge (and has some upsides and downers to it). To come back from a five day coma, and from losing most of your musical abilities, is quite a road. "We will survive!"
D in California
Brazilian Tom Zé...all the way!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read and vaguely remember, he'd given up his career in music (couple decades worth) and was working in a gas station when some old tracks of his were published on compilations by Luaka Bop. He's back to making great idiosyncratic records again.
Well that's an easy one for me given my favourite artist is Paul Weller.
ReplyDeleteHaving broken up the very successful Mod / New Wave band the Jam. His next venture the Style Council after initial success dwindled in popularity so by 1990 the band had effectively become inactive and Weller was without a record contract. 2 years later Weller released his self titled first solo album which reached number 8 in the UK charts. The subsequent 17 albums have all made the UK top 5 amassing 5 platinum discs, 8 Gold Discs and 3 Silver Discs. His live albums and compilations have amassed a further 4 Platinum discs, 3 Gold discs and another silver.
Weller (aka The Modfather) is considered to be one of the seminal influences behind the Britpop phenomenon and is close friends with both Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Steve Craddock (Ocean Colour Scene) amongst many others and in terms of popularity is by far the most successful artist to come out of the UK New Wave / Punk era and the only songwriter from that era who can really be compared in the same breath as the likes of Townshend, Davies, even Jagger/ Richards and the likes in UK terms. The irony being whilst he has become popular across Europe and had some success in Australia and New Zealand his music has never really translated into US success even though the likes of those influenced by him (eg Oasis) have.
I believe Paul Weller’s lack of traction in the US was because his songwriting was rooted in English society. With The Jam (whom I adored), many of Paul’s songs were about British working-class life, which middle-class American baby boomers (the record buying public at the time), didn’t relate to.
DeleteAbsolutely Babs I grew up on the Jam and Setting Sons is my most worn album and they were very much a reflection of 1977 Britain and the state the nation had got into.
DeleteHowever that is a world away from his solo work which musically certainly during the 1990's in many ways was as powerful as the work of the Jam without being in any way parochial and I just thought it odd after the watershed of the Style Council which very much marked a new beginning for him and his links to bands like Oasis (I've seen Gallagher play encores with him 3 times and Craddock 4) that he might have gained more attention in the US but it never happened.
Its a great pity really because whilst not all his solo albums are consistent (is anyone's?) there is some fine work there. That said its not to say he hasn't got a significant following in the States just not one large enough to impact the music charts.
I was onboard with the Jam from the moment I heard their first LP on in-store play at Tower Records in Berkeley. But yeah...Americans don't care about Eton and the British class system; a lot of the references go right over our heads. Hey, I got your "tie and a crest" right here, man, whatever the hell they are.
DeleteStyle Council was a little too much Mayfield for my tastes at the time; I preferred the original.
I only dabbled in the 90s...Wild Wood, Changingman, Sunflower, From the Floorboards Up...just listened to a few single. I will have to dig into some of those albums!
Comeback or going into a new phase... I'd say Miles going electric, culminating with Agharta & Pangaea.
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ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/LsP2peGpK87
I think the Dream Syndicate is a good band that had a comeback after being away.
ReplyDeleteSonny Rollins, after his Williamsburg Bridge sabbatical.
ReplyDeleteI just couldn't resist mentioning another quite sensational comeback and that is the comeback of the Zombies not least because of the 40 year late recognition of Odessey & Oracle by the music establishment.
ReplyDeleteThey recorded Odessey in 1967 and but were already in the throes of breaking up. It was released after their break up in 1968 and garnered little interest and after one failed relaunch in 1989 (without Rod Argent) Blunstone and Argent got back together in 2000 as a duo finally reintroducing the Zombies name in 2004. They toured solidly for the next 20 years with their latest live appearance in 2023.
During that time they have received much praise being inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame in 2019 and seeing Odessey ranked 243rd in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Their work has musical compositions compared to those of the Beatles and Beach Boys and Odessey finally received a Gold Disc 53 years after its release having sold more copies in the 21st Century than it did in the 20th Century when it was initially released. All this led to their documentary 'Hung Up On A Dream' being released across US movie theatres in May of this year.
I've not been able to locate a copy of this online (despite it being streamed b y various outlets so if anyone has got a copy they'd like to share?
You’re in luck!
DeleteHere’s the ‘Odessey’ and ‘Oracle’ 50th Anniversary Edition, from 2017. It also includes 7 bonus tracks.
Enjoy, my friend!
https://workupload.com/file/jQzGmD5pwU7
The Monkees
ReplyDeleteVan der Graaf Generator
Fuck
I saw the Specials documentary yesterday. They were fantastic (until Terry Hall died)
ReplyDeleteHey, Babs! I just ran across a live set by Cymande at this year's Glastonbury Festival: https://albumsthatshouldexist.blogspot.com/2025/08/cymande-bbc-in-concert-glastonbury.html
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