Cymande Renascence
Released Jan 31, 2025 BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd.
Consensus forming 3 professional reviews Updated Oct 15, 2026
Broadly positive consensus
Consensus is still forming across 3 professional reviews. Cymande's Renascence makes the band's early-’70s blend of R&B and funk feel less like a period piece than a fresh, energized continuation.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
How We Roll - feat. Jazzie B
1 critic mention
“The tune has a filthy bass line, and to these ears, some segments have a bit of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On feel.” — Glide Magazine
Chasing An Empty Dream
1 critic mention
“The made-for-the-dance floor opener “Chasing An Empty Dream” begins with a ridiculously funky bass line from Steve before percussion kicks in” — Glide Magazine
Only One Way - feat. Celeste
1 critic mention
Full critic consensus
Cymande's Renascence makes the band's early-’70s blend of R&B and funk feel less like a period piece than a fresh, energized continuation. The album holds an 80/100 consensus score across three professional reviews, a positive reception that reflects the vitality of its grooves and the way its sound connects generations. For anyone asking whether Renascence is worth hearing, the critical picture points to a lively return from a band whose musical identity still has room to move.
The standout moments favor weighty bass, horns, and rhythmic invention. “Chasing An Empty Dream” opens with a notably funky bass line, while “Coltrane” and “Sweeden” bring thick grooves and blaring horns. “How We Roll - feat. Jazzie B” folds hip-hop into Cymande’s foundational sound, making the intergenerational legacy of the group audible rather than merely nostalgic. Afro-Cuban rhythms and funk, Black identity and self-determination, and tensions around family values and materialism also surface among the album’s recurring themes. The result is a record that links the band’s revival to a broader musical inheritance, with its energy carrying through the arrangements. These tracks offer a useful guide to the album’s range, from groove-led funk to a meeting of generations. Read on for the individual reviews and the fuller critical consensus on Renascence.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Chasing An Empty Dream
Road to Zion
Only One Way - feat. Celeste
Coltrane
Sweeden
How We Roll - feat. Jazzie B
Heart of the Willing
I Wanna Know
Darkest Night
Carry the Word
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Cymande’s Renascence finds their early ‘70s R&B and funky grooves feeling less retro than like a dose of refreshment, with “Chasing An Empty Dream” beginning with a ridiculously funky bass line. “Coltrane” and “Sweeden” bring the thick grooves and blaring horns, and “How We Roll - feat. Jazzie B” folds hip-hop into the band’s early sonics and speaks to its inter-generational legacy. They are a highly energized band, still after all this time, and well worth seeing live.
Key Points
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“How We Roll - feat. Jazzie B” stands out for folding hip-hop into Cymande’s early sonics while addressing Black identity and self-determination.
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The album’s core strengths are its funky bass lines, blaring horns, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and smoothly delivered ballads.