Cymande - 1973 - Second Time Round

Cymande

1973

Second Time Round

01. Anthracite 5:32

02. Willies' Headache 4:50

03. Genevieve 4:00

04. Trevorgus 3:25

05. To You 3:31

06. For Baby Ooh 2:17

07. Fug 4:25

08. Crawshay 4:21

09. Bird 4:25

10. Them And Us 5:25

Ray King / vocals, percussion

Steve Scipio / bass

Derek Gibbs / soprano & alto saxophones

Pablo Gonsales / congas

Joey Dee / vocals, percussion

Peter Serreo / tenor saxophone

Sam Kelly / drums

Mike Rose / alto saxophone, flute, bongos

Patrick Patterson / guitar

Second album from the London-based octet follows the same blueprint as they had for their debut album of the previous year. With a largely un-changed setting (line-up + technicians), the same label, the album came with another impressive artwork from the same painter.

The album starts on the very strong Anthracite (a very black coal, burning very well), which ignites the fire in your veins with its upbeat funky track gliding over distant brass lines, occasionally letting sax and flute getting personal with the listener. Excellent stuff. Willy's Headache is an aerial flute-laden soft jazzy track that last only two seconds longer than you wish it to and is soon followed by Genevieve, which is another excellent track where the insistent brass ostinato create a special tension that the vocals is only too happy to deal with.

The album is not quite as "perfect" as its predecessor, since there are a few tracks of lesser interest, including the more trad-African drum track For Baby Woh and. Fug is an up-tempo ethnic track (this sounds like Zulu rhythms) where the brass section attack both in the front ranks, but also in the background.

While Second Time around is another very worthy album, it doesn't have the amount of excellent tracks its predecessor had and furthermore, it lacks the surprise the first album had given us.

Cymande's second LP is captivating enough, but perhaps too political for the masses. Still, there've been few better fusions of reggae and jazz than Second Time Round. The spirited "Anthracite" is driven by horns on the chorus, a scorching sax solo, and a titillating flute. Flautist Mike Rose continues to captivate on the oddly titled "Willie Headache," which is far too mellow to cause listeners to grab for the Tylenol. Everything is centered around Steve Scipo's bubbly bass notes, a good example being "Trevorgus," in which the beat falls between midtempo and uptempo and everything (the horns, the rhythm, the chanting vocals) complements each other as if linked by an invisible chain. The group scintillates on "Fug," a rapid-fire mover and shaker that speaks of people dying because of greed and deceit. Cymande let their dreads down on this one -- emoting, getting real, and performing like there's no tomorrow. Gotta give Pablo Gonsales a bone for his constant, creative work on the congas throughout; drummer Sam Kelly stays in the background, happy with his understated role and keeping it tight. Vocalist Ray King breaks off his best lead on the tempo changing "Bird," and Joey Dee assists vocally while patting on his conga set; Peter Serreo, and Derek Gibbs sax play sparkles like champagne from beginning to end.