Last year, enigmatic UK group SAULT released two albums -- titled simply 5 and 7 -- that pulled from '70s funk, soul and disco, afrobeat, dub, ESG and other early-'80s downtown NYC dance music. It's a sound that is not a million miles from the quiltwork sample approach of The Avalanches or the evergreen soul of Adrian Younge. As to who exactly is behind SAULT, the trio are not saying, but general internet consensus is that the trio includes Dean “Inflo” Wynton Josiah, who is best known for working with Michael Kiwanuka, but also Jungle (another enigmatic UK group), as well as Little Simz. The rest of the trio, if Spotify writing credits mean anything, might be rounded out by Cleo Sol (who has also worked with Little Simz) and Melisa Young (aka Kid Sister).
SAULT just released Untitled (Black Is), their third album, which feels like a decided step up in every way. Michael Kiwanuka provides vocals on "Bow" and Laurette Josiah sings on "This Generation." The music here is not unlike what's found on their first two albums but, woven together with inspiring spoken word pieces, there is new focus and to these ambitious grooves which flow into one another. "We present our first ‘Untitled’ album to mark a moment in time where we as Black People, and of Black Origin are fighting for our lives," they wrote, announcing the album. "RIP George Floyd and all those who have suffered from police brutality and systemic racism. Change is happening…We are focused."