Black Flower - Artifacts (2016)

Black Flower is the striking, international-sounding project of saxophonist/composer/pivotal figure/multi-instrumentalist Nathan Daems. Greatest source of inspiration is quite definitely Ethiopische jazz by Mulatu Astatke and the Afrobeat of Nigeria’s Fela Kuti. There are also echoes of Masada (see: John Zorn) as well as dub and more Eastern influences than ever.

So you’ll also understand why we shot their ’14 debut ‘Abysinnia Afterlife’ into the category ‘Best Belgian Album of 2014’. Time for successor ‘Artifacts’ (out later this year), on which the band says to have been led by their fascination for past and contemporary cultures.