“…Brilliant” – Gilles Peterson
“Ethio-dub from outer space taking you all the way out” – The Gaslamp Killer
“Highly succesful combination of psychedelic jazz, Afro-funk and Ethio-jazz” – Songlines / 4****
Piloted by saxophonist /flutist /composer Nathan Daems (Ragini Trio, Dijf Sanders, Stavroz, Echoes of Zoo), this instrumental band aims for originality. Fellow musicians and ‘brothers down the road’ are Jon Birdsong (dEUS, Beck, Calexico) on cornet, Simon Segers (Absynthe Minded, De Beren Gieren, MDCIII, Stadt) at the drums, Filip Vandebril (Lady Linn, The Valerie Solanas, Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra) at the bass and Wouter Haest (Los Callejeros, Voodoo Boogie) playing keys.
For many of us, the Ethiopian aspect once made known to the world by Mulatu Astatke will stand out. Still, Black Flower further adds oriental scales, Afrobeat à la Fela Kuti, jazz in a John Zorn way and varied western music traditions such as rock and dub. The resulting melting pot is undoubtedly inspired by Nathan’s distant travels and the multifariously colorful city of Brussels.
…Pretty legit if you ask me – LeFto, Studio Brussel
After their well-received debut album Abyssinia Afterlife (2014, W.E.R.F. / Zephyrus Records) that created an atmosphere of mythical figures and psychedelia, Black Flower now reflects on ancient and modern cultures. The album title Artifacts refers to centuries-old fragile objects or tools that empowered the development of human culture. The world today would look entirely different without those artifacts. The seemingly brittle suddenly becomes a powerful welding cornerstone. Add the musicians’ personal musical backgrounds and the result is an album with an ageless mystique. Artifacts is the synthesis of different cultures, of the past and present, and personal and collective memories. It is the soundtrack to modern reality, based on the elements that connect us.
Reviews
Abyssinia Afterlife
“…Psychedelic funk between North and South: wahwah- and fuzz pedals, Farfissa organs and melodicas, afrobeat and grooves drenched in the melancholic and sensual scales of Ethiojazz. This debut album sounds nostalgic and lighthearted.” – Focus Knack 3***
“… pretty legit if you ask me” – LeFto
“…one of Belgium’s Best Band of these pas years… Black Flower always grooves” – Kurt Overbergh, AB
Ghost Radio
Imagine a radio… a radio that plays music from other worlds, past and future. When you went to turn it on and tune in, what would you hear? With this idea the gentlemen of Black Flower hit the studio for an impressionistic, abstract and psychedelic session. This album is special. Call it a off-track album, a ghost record, a document,… It is one that gives a unique insight into the minds and creative processes of the musicians of Black Flower. – Music Mania
The result is Ethio jazz as I’ve never heard it before: moodier, gentler, spookier, more airy – and fabulous. Don’t miss! One of my favorites this year. – AArbor
Artifacts
Brilliant – Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6
‘Artifacts’ is brilliantly coordinated international rhythms inspired by their distant travels and colourful city of Brussels. The album offers a melting pot of diverse cultures. The soundtrack attempts to link together ‘artifacts’ through their songs, and succeed in doing so with an old age human ritual: dancing! – Matthew Barlow
Intermediate State
Interesting, crazy, and hypnotizing, Intermediate State is a powerful release that is best listened to with your eyes closed and your mind open. It draws on each member’s ability to get lost in their own world, and bring it all back together in 4 really fascinating pieces of music. Well worth a listen. Score 4/5 – Jamie Parmenter
Future Flora
“Future Flora gets under your skin (…) it sounds irresitable and is heavily contagious (…) made with fire and love so there is no other option then to embrace it completely.”
4,5**** by Written in Music
Magma
The critics on Black Flower’s previous albums:
“Riveting playfulness and throttling sense of adventure” Mojo
“Music that will make you turn on, tune in and turn it right up” Songlines
“Bends the purist rules of world music to good effect” The Independent
“We’re fans of knitwear-loving Belgian five-piece Black Flower. Why wouldn’t you be?” The Artsdesk
“Brilliant” Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 6 Music/Worldwide FM