'Kinetic' by Black Flower

'Kinetic' marks the latest album release from Belgian quintet, Black Flower, whose sensational new record finds the band continuing their long-running association with the pioneering and fearless ambition of Sdban Records.

Having initially connected over the band's second full-length offering, 'Artifacts' in 2016, Sdban have become intertwined within Black Flower's musical journey as their narrative has unfolded over the release of some fantastic music.  Heralded for their distinct fusion of contemporary jazz alongside Ethiodub and Eastern influences, 'Kinetic' serves as the perfect extension of the quintet's over-arching message.

Always striving to convey new ideas and concepts with each release, Black Flower have raised the bar to insurmountable heights this go round.  'Kinetic', as a novel concept, finds the band using their music to explore the notion of 'change' as a necessary, evolutionary step forwards.  Revered psychologist Abraham Maslow is credited as once saying "In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety".  

For Black Flower, their music has often been characterised by its decided intentions to keep moving forward - a refusal of sorts to rest on past creative laurels, if you will.  For 'Kinetic', the idea of change and movement (as the album title suggests) is regarded to be of equal importance when considering the ideal from both the physical as much as the spiritual.  Music made up of such diverse influences would only ever have focused on infectious grooves and rhythms as it would have with seeking to inspire which is in line with the Black Flower aesthetic.  

Comprised of musicians including saxophonist Nathan Daems, cornett player Jon Birdsong, drummer Simon Segers, bassist Filip Vandebril and organist Karel Cuelenaere, the Black Flower collective have ascended to super group status with many of the band's members each involved within a multitude of projects; from helming their own projects to serving as session musicians for a range of notable artists including Beck, Jamaican Jazz Orchestra, Lee Perry and Myrddin Quartet, the Black Flower team continue to raise their banner to reach increased critical acclaim each time.

The album kicks off with an emphatic statement of intent as the near-ten-minute opener navigates an enthralling exploration into the themes of movement, at times understated and at others utterly riveting.  Which very much serves as an observation indicative of the album as a whole.  An inspired album that represents some of the best work Black Flower have ever put forward.