Black Liberation Music

Dälek – From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots

Style: Hip-Hop [Industrial, Boom-Bap, Noise, East Coast, Experimental]

Vibes: Brooding, Gritty, Philosophical, Dystopian, Introspective, Angry, Spiritual, Urban, Cerebral, Ominous, Aggressive, Apocalyptic, Cold, Poetic, Political

Musical Qualities: Noisy, Sampling, Dense, Beats, Collage, Heavy, Dissonant, Turntablism, Droney, Feedback

Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden

Style: Free Jazz, Creative Music, Liberation Music, Jazz Poetry, Spiritual Jazz

Vibe: Passionate, Rootsy, Poetic, Storytelling, Rebellious, Compassionate, Intertwined, Haunting, Spiritual, Driving, Communal, Triumphant, Sad, Powerful

Themes: Ancestry, History, Feminism, Trauma, Memory, Black Liberation, Identity, Death

Musical Qualities: Suite, Thematic, Graphic Score, Improvisation, Spoken Word, Complex, Group Vocals

Irreversible Entanglements – Protect Your light

Style: Liberation Music, Jazz Poetry, Spiritual Jazz

Vibes: Uplifting, Polyvocal, Intertwined, Triumphant, Meditative, Driving, Spiritual, Rebellious, Political, Warm, Conscious, Poetic, Liberation

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Polyrhythmic, Acoustic, Polyphonic, Progressive, Thematic, Ostinato

Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips

ft. Moor Mother, Pink Siifu, Junglepussy, Shabaka Hutchings, JPEGMAFIA, DJ Haram, Kenny Segal, El-P, Black Noi$e…

Style: Hip-Hop [Progressive, East Coast, Industrial, Underground]

Vibe: Cerebral, Surreal, Philosophical, Urban, Deadpan, Confident, Apathetic, Conscious, Cryptic, Dystopian, Observational, Rebellious

Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile

Style: Jazz (Spiritual, Avant-Garde, Folk), Modern Creative, Spirituals

Moods: Spiritual, Storytelling, Passionate, Reflective, Intertwined, Rootsy, Warm, Uplifting, Poetic, Communal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Progressive, Acoustic, Collage, Complex, Dense, Conducted Improvisation, Thematic,

Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone, Group Vocals, Wordspeak, Operatic Vocals, Piano, Trumpet, Upright Bass, Drums

Audio Liberation Technologies (Reflections of Dystopia) [Moon Glow Radio | 04.02.2023]

This brooding mix of gritty, nocturnal electronics, de-constructed experimentation, and post-industrial beats conceptualizes music as a liberation technology, channelling vital information & powerful energies within its sonic codes. Artists such as Dälek, Moor Mother, The Knife, Joe Rainey, & Efrim Menuck draw from theories of de-colonialism, marxism, Black Quantum Futurism, free jazz, anti-imperialism & anarchy to illuminate & confront oppressive systems as they really are, inspiring collective resistance, and illuminating new pathways forward.

Kuumba-Toudie Heath – Kawaida

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Modal Jazz, Post-Bop

Vibe: Self-Determination, Communal, Triumphant, Spiritual, Devotional, Uplifting, Conscious, Warm

Musical Qualities: Collective Improvisation, Lush, Rhythmic, Acoustic, Thematic, Modal, Spoken Word, Percussive

The Art Ensemble of Chicago – We Are On the Edge

Style: Modern Creative, Chamber Jazz, Experimental Big Band, Great Black Music, Avant-Garde Classical

Vibe: Communal, Triumphant, Suspenseful, History, Eclectic, Colorful, Intricate, Ritualistic, Patient, Open, Complex, Theatric

Musical Qualities: Poly-Free Improvisation, Dynamic, Collective, Progressive Structures, Technical, Orchestral, Percussive, Reductionism, Suite, Polyphonic

Instrumentation: Trumpets, Upright Bass, Spoken Word, Operatic Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Saxophone, Cello, Violin, Viola

Irreversible Entanglements – Open the Gates

Style: Free Jazz, Future Jazz, Jazz Poetry, Liberation Music

Vibe: Ritualistic, Triumphant, Aquatic, Communal, Futuristic, Philosophical, Poetic, Anthemic, Cerebral, Confident, Conscious, Determined, Epic, Existential, Groovy, Healing, Heavy, Liberation, Political, Powerful, Rebellious, Evocative, Mystical, Intertwined

Musical Qualities: Thematic, Collective Improvisation, Acoustic Instrumentation, Spoken Word, Progressive Structures, Rhythmic, Polyphonic, Dynamic, Complex, Dub Fx

Moor Mother & billy woods – Brass

Style: Hip-Hop (Hardcore, Boom-Bap, Experimental, East Coast)

Vibe: Gritty, Ritualistic, Ominous, Dystopian, Philosophical, Futuristic, Apocalyptic, Cold, Cryptic, Dark, Philosophical, Political, Surreal, Woozy, Conscious

Musical Qualities: Sampling, Beats, Percussive, Noisy, Lyrical, Spoken Word, Rhythmic

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson

Style: Jazz-Funk, Soul Jazz

Vibe: Conscious, Empathetic, Passionate, Groovy, Liberation, Political, Energetic, Warm, Bittersweet, Sunny

Musical Qualities: Percussive, Lush, Polished, Rhythmic, Lyrical, Improvised Sections

Mourning [A] BLKstar – The Cycle

Style: Avant-Soul, Psychedelic Funk, Trip-Hop

Vibe: Heartfelt, Passionate, Raw, Reflective, Communal, Intimate, Afrofuturism, Nocturnal, Political, Mournful, Eclectic, Powerful

Musical Qualities: Progressive, Groovy, Dynamic, Beats

Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man

Style: Soul Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Jazz-Funk

Vibe: Conscious, Bittersweet, Political, Uplifting, Sunny, Warm, Urban, Sombre, Poetic, Contemplative, Observant, Passionate, Determined, Confident

Musical Qualities: Groovy, Lush, Spoken Word, Technical

Doug Carn – Spirit of the New Land

Style: Spiritual Jazz, Black Liberation Music, Vocal Jazz

Vibe: Triumphant, Uplifting, Conscious, Groovy, Passionate, Poetic, Cathartic, Spiritual

Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Dynamic, Acoustic, Progressive, Rhythmic, Technical, Melodic, Complex