Mourning A BLKstar 8211 Flowers for the Living LP

Following their masterful 2020 double LP The Cycle, which showcased a bold, skittering hip-hop take on gospel music, and 2024s emphatic blues-rock tape Ancient//Future, the Cleveland based Afrofuturist collective returns with Flowers for the Living. Flowers for the Living merges the moody, mercurial grooves of the former, the hypnotic fire power of the latter, plus the clarity that comes with reaching that first decade milestone. Theres something healing about these downtempo, percussion-forward songs, with atmospheric keys and stirring vocal harmonies fading in and out, as if succumbing to the whims of an omnipotent mystical force. And then, bang! Once youre lured into the pleasure zone, a vehement, gut-busting voice sets things aflame, an imposing trumpet riff lands a punch, or an unexpected, foreboding production quirk signals an eerie detour. This record may radiate with cosmic joy, but Mourning [A] BLKstar also has unfinished business. Theyve established themselves as astute chroniclers of Americas systemic injustices, inherent contradictions, and resilience, and their reverence for radical Black and queer modes of expression only enhances the richness of their art. Lucky for us, M[A]B thrives on frenetic energy, and they continue to add to their treasure trove. And lucky for them, theyve got nothing but limitless space ahead.