Cymande get spiritual on inspirational funk single "Chasing An Empty Dream"
Legendary UK funk heavyweights Cymande are back with a new single that chases the magic of a band whose original body of work continues to leave fingerprints on the sounds of a diverse array of modern musicians from Cut Chemist and Jim James, to Mark Ronson and Khruangbin. Cymande’s beat-forward, Caribbean-flavored perspective draws on African rhythms, reggae, jazz, and psychedelic rock for a uniquely defined attitude that stood out among their peers during the 1970s and positioned the band as a foundational source of prominent samples during the early rise of hip-hop in the 1980s.
“Chasing An Empty Dream” is a laid back jam that retains the band’s classic guitar tones and knack for brilliantly textural composition, expanded with layers of varied instrumentation accented with sweeping strings and big, brassy horns. The production is incredibly slick, shedding the scruffier elements of the band’s earlier recordings in favor of a glossy, mainstream presentation that places “Chasing An Empty Dream” more in the orbit of a later day Earth, Wind & Fire track. The extra polish highlights Cymande’s skillful playing at the expense of an element of charm, sacrificing the crackling intimacy of a fireside drum circle for the icy wonder of the stars glittering distantly overhead.
The production does amplify the more gospel-focused qualities that Cymande leans into on the back third of the track, with soaring vocals and crystalline strings juxtaposed against a thick bassline, funked up for maximum inspirational impact. “Chasing An Empty Dream” rallies around a more authentic way of living with lyrics that focus on perseverance and drawing power from the past while moving forward into an uncertain future, a sort of re-centering of perspective on spiritual affluence and the power of tradition over the hollow pursuit of monetary wealth and fleeting social media fame.
Renascence releases January 31, 2025 via BMG. Stream “Chasing An Empty Dream” on Spotify and follow Cymande on Instagram.