THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ancient//Future is Mourning [A] Blkstar’s first official album since their acclaimed 2020 release The Cycle, and arrives in the wake of Celestial Bodies. Listening to the album, it quickly becomes clear that M[A]B have grown exponentially since their last studio effort.
Arriving on the heels of a tour supporting celebrated experimentalist Lonnie Holley, M[A]B return with a commanding album filled with rich auditory exploration and profound narratives. At the core of Ancient//Future is a rousing, ruminative thesis: “In a world that is shaken at its core, at war with the earth and in its values, in its capital perspective and ignorant to the depth of life’s meaning we offer a suite of songs entitled Ancient//Future. How do you approach a flame that spits fire in all directions? A flame that careens the message on its very back? In a landscape filled with love and love lost, valor and brewing contempt of a marginalized box with tight locks. This output breaks through the ceiling and demands to be seen in full color and uninhibited nakedness.”
Exploring themes of intense passion, love, loss, courage, and marginalized anger, M[A]B aren’t afraid to confront the turmoils and conflicts of our contemporary world to blaze new paths forward. The album is a bold continuation of their commitment to challenging the cultural paradoxes of America and forging new pathways in what they call heart music, further solidifying their place as one of the most innovative forces in modern music.
Featuring contributions by violinist Caitlin Edwards, Ancient//Future presents M[A]B at their most direct, unrepressed, and thought-provoking — a work aptly represented in the album’s compelling cover art, created by L.A.-based artist Dakari Akil. Through a dialogue between contemporary digital techniques and live instrumentation, they are dedicated to crafting aural stories that illuminate the African Diaspora. With a unique blend of organic textures, harmonized vocals, and hip-hop production, M[A]B’s work transcends genre and eschews convention.”
