Amongst funk fans, the legend of Cymande has taken hold over the last four decades. Originally formed in 1971 by nine Caribbean-born Londoners, they called it a day after only three years, but their earthy sound – which dipped into reggae, Afrobeat and calypso – lives on. Inimitable tracks like ‘Bra’ and ‘The Message’ have been sampled by hip hop acts like De La Soul and dropped into countless DJ sets over the years.
Cymande reunited in 2014 and recently announced a new LP, ‘Crazy Game’, due for release later this year. This Barbican show, featuring the band’s core founding members and a few new additions, is a rare opportunity to witness these undersung and downright funky legends at work.