Largely eschewing social media and the public eye, Sault has quietly garnered a cult following thanks to their raw, genre-bending sound and powerful lyrics. Internet theories abound but little is known about the mysterious British band that burst onto the scene last year with the release of two incredible albums, Untitled (Black Is) and Untitled (Rise). Both albums coincided with the murder of George Floyd and the summer of protest that followed, becoming de facto protest anthems that spoke to the times like nothing else.
Now Sault is back with their third album, Nine. Whereas the two Untitled albums largely explored racial injustice, Nine examines Black trauma and pain. Throughout, the album is interspersed with bits of powerful, anonymous stories of trauma and loss told by Black Londoners, providing a powerful and stark contrast to the often exuberant music these tales bookend.
Nine is Sault’s third album in a little over a year. You might think such torrential output would diminish the quality of their music, but Nine finds Sault again elevating their game. Sonically, it’s as rich as ever, with the band exploring a wide range of styles and influences, from grime (“Trap Life”) to cinematic soul (“Bitter Streets”) to gospel (“Light’s In Your Hands”) to funk (“Alcohol”). This range of influences is united by funk and soul, the Sault’s primary genres.
Adding to their air of mystery, Nine will only be available in all forms (streaming and physical) for 99 days. As Nine is crucial listening that will surely grace many a best of the year list, be sure to listen to it now or pick up a copy while you still can. Highly recommended.
