Mourning [A] BLKstar is a group founded in Cleveland in 2015 by RA Washington. The producer/bass player shaped the group by recruiting a trio of powerful vocalists and paired with live horns, drums, guitar, and keys, along with his own sampling/production. The result is an incredibly unique sound, one that they’ve continued to hone in their time together. Their 2020 album, The Cycle, was named the best album of the year right here at Scratched Vinyl. Since that time, we’ve gotten a couple of timely singles/EPs, but now they are back with their next full-length album, Celestial Bodies.

Celestial Bodies is special in that this wasn’t just another Mourning [A] BLKstar album, it was a collaborative work of art done with renowned Berlin-based dance company, Company Christoph Winkler, Adult Swim and the Cleveland Museum of Art. I was not able to witness any live performance of this music, but I can only imagine how powerful it must have been to pair the visual experience with the audible. That’s because Mourning [A] BLKstar have once again given us an album that is incredibly daring, thoughtful, and soulful. Over the course of the album, they are bringing in elements of hip hop, soul, jazz, blues, gospel, reggae, and psychedelic music, stirring them all together to craft their own individual sound. Washington’s beats are usually understated and typically sit underneath the powerful vocals and horns featured in the group, but when you take a step back you can see how the static noise and minimal percussion he lays down helps create the soundscape for the whole group. That foundation is then built out by drums, keys, bass, and guitar, all beautifully and subtly played in this tight fashion that holds the album together. This foundation then allows the powerful vocals of James Long, LaToya Kent, and Kyle Kidd to soar, and for the brilliant trumpet playing by Theresa May and trombone playing of William Washington to cut through the noise and straight into your soul. It’s a delicate balancing act, but you can sense from how well everyone plays off of each other from track to track just how much everyone understands how they come together and create this unique sound. It’s a sound that harkens back through the history of Black music, but then propels everything into the future, and in the case of this album, into outer space. It’s an album that you can really let your imagination run wild to while you’re listening to it, but you can also listen closely and be pleasantly surprised by a different musical moment each time through. There is just so much information and emotion packed into this small space.

Celestial Bodies is an incredible album born out of a unique collaborative space. It’s also a great continuation of the brilliant work they’ve been doing since their inception, creating a sound that few can even come close to touching. It’s full of beautiful imagery, exceptional musicianship, and it will take you on a hell of a journey from start to finish.