Sunday evening, October 22, a mythical concert took place at the Bataclan. Mythical? Because the Cymande group has recently reformed and Mc Solaar told us about his exceptional presence.
Mellotron and DJ Soulist opened for him. Funk sauce with sounds such as the Hot 8 Brass Band's Sexual Healing . In the room there is already a very hot energizer waddling: the excitement of Sunday evening!
Arrival of Cymande at the right time, the group is not long in coming and starts with the famous Brother on the slide. Four albums released in the 70s, then the band reformed in 2012; and following the new album A simple act of faith released in 2015 Cymande goes on tour again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeSRHd7eaQQ
All from the West Indies, the eight Britons have produced music between funk, soul, reggae and calypso. Steve Scipio (bass and vocals) and Patrick Patterson (guitar and vocals) are the two driving forces of the band. Their music has a something that makes it largely inspired the groove scene of the 80s. Of the nine present on stage that night at the Bataclan, six are original members.
Brother on the slide is the reflection of their music: easy to listen to and dance to but which keeps a deep meaning. From Crawshay with its jazzy flights to Bra who offered us a magnificent trumpet solo, we are already on a reggae repertoire with God's Highway.
Getting it back captivates us with its sax gimmick and Do it (this time with feeling) is closer to the soul ballad.
When Willy's headache arrives, Cymande dedicates the title to the tragic events of November 13, 2015 that took place at the Bataclan.
From Friends, a catchy and danceable track, to Dove, an instrumental track where the passage of the rain stick made the assembly silent, the band still has as much energy on stage. Penultimate stage of the set list, Crazy game and his piano solo. Each member of the group will have been able to reveal their talents tonight!
Music is the message and the message is music! When The Message arrives, it is the spirit of conviviality exuded by this music that is convincing!
It was then that Mc Solaar came to interpret his Bouge de là, dating from 1990. It must be said that Cymande was extremely sampled, especially on the side of rap and hip-hop at that time – then remixed more recently. Their music has influenced many artists: Bra covered by De La Soul on Change in Speak and Dove by Wu-Tang Clan on Problems and The Fugees on The Score are the best known examples. On the remix side, we like the Pulse Rework on Brothers on the slide.
Claude M'Barali aka Mc Solaar, it is THE pioneer of French rap, a more poetic rap and with worked melodies. After ten years of absence on stage, the rapper who has just released Sonotone on September 1 , made us the pleasure of his presence: too short, it must be said that the frustration is immense. But this is only a good omen: his album Géopoétique is released on November 3 (with nineteen new titles) and gives a glimpse of the hope of a live.
When Cymande returns on stage to perform his latest title, singing you know tonight is a chance for us, the Bataclan does not want to let them go! To listen and listen again endlessly.
