Steady With The SAULT

It should perhaps come as no surprise that SAULT dropped another surprise new album on Friday (9th).

Titled Chapter 1 - also a characteristic tease of multiple releases in 2026? - it's a brisk, 36-minute, 10-track collection that's every bit as slick and polished as we have come to expect from the...well, no longer so mysterious collective.

And the whiff of familiarity is perhaps both a blessing and a curse on SAULT's 15 (!) album since 2019. For the devoted, Chapter 1 continues to deliver on the promise of previous albums and whilst not with an eye on dominating the airwaves or singles charts, there is something pleasingly reassuring in the overall warm hug of the album.

For the most part, it's business as usual: joining producer Inflo are seasoned SAULT professionals Cleo Sol, Jack Peñate and Melissa Young (formerly known as Kid Sister). Also present and correct is the consummate use of strings, bass and percussion to create a groovy yet heart-tugging soundscape.

On first listen, the lyrics follow a well-ploughed furrow of affirmation and/or devotion, with characteristic repetition of a few - sometimes just a single - line throughout the song. SAULT are canny enough to know how much is enough, so for me at least this never outstays it's welcome and gets boring.

There are no credits on the Bandcamp page accompanying the album, so the only other surprise is reading that US writing and production legends Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have been involved in the creation of Chapter 1. I've no idea to what extent and, if I hadn't read about it online, I'd never have guessed their presence from a casual listen. 

Chapter 1 is very much follows the SAULT template and any members of the collective fall in line with the ethos rather than stretch or pull it into different shapes.

With the increasing demystification of SAULT, including some less than favourable reviews of their live performance (only their second ever) at the All Points East festival last year, it's reasonable that even the surprise drop of a new album lacks the impact and shock value of their earlier releases.

Which would be a shame and, for all of that, Chapter 1 is a really good album and, compared to previous releases like Earth, AIR and AIIR, is designed for repeat listening. 

Is Chapter 1 likely to be my favourite SAULT album? No. 

It Chapter 1 what we need right here, right now in 2026? Absolutely.

 

A SAULT On The Senses

SAULT have only gone and done it again. This message appeared on their official website yesterday (1st November):

 

Here are 5 albums released as an offering to God.

Available for free download for 5 days.

The password to unlock all 5 albums is in the message.

Love SAULT x

Just process that for a minute. Five albums. Fifty six songs. Over three and a half hours of new music. For free.

 

What is even more incredible is that this is SAULT's eleventh album since 2019. Eleventh! 

 

Before yesterday, SAULT had already released one album (AIR) and one EP (Angel) in 2022, which I wrote about last month. My mind is boggling at the statistics, let alone the quality of the music.

When I posted about SAULT for the first time last year, I described the challenge of curating a SAULT selection:

Each album is a compelling listen and trying to compile a selection for this blog is both seemingly impossible and deceptively simple. 

In the end, I copped out by creating an acrostic, tracks from each of the five albums spelling out the collective's name. 

Even so, I think it hangs together really well and will hopefully encourage you to search out more.

I started this post at 5.00am today (2nd) so no, I haven't listened to a single album in full or even begun to scratch the surface of this treasure trove yet. I've picked a random sample of 10 songs, two from each album, to provide a 40-minute selection. As before, but honestly more by luck than design, I think the selection works well as a complete listening experience, an Imaginary Compilation Album*, if you will. 

 

Given my moan about download links yesterday, until I decide on a permanent replacement you can (hopefully) access today's selection either via Box or Mega.

In the meantime, the countdown clock's ticking to November 5th; when they're gone, they're gone. SAULT's message is godislove.

1) Gods Will (AIIR)

2) Fear No One (11)

3) The Plan (Today & Tomorrow)

4) Soul Inside My Beautiful Imagination (Earth)

5) Colour Blind (UNTITLED (God))

6) The Jungle (Today & Tomorrow)

7) Fields (Earth)

8) Glory (11)

9) Luminous (UNTITLED (God))

10) 5am (AIIR)

 

A SAULT On The Senses (41:29) (Box) (Mega)

 

* copyright The Vinyl Villain

From Cold Water To Fever

Thursday's mention of Danger Mouse's 2019 album with Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O is a good excuse to highlight his current, long awaited collaboration with The Roots' Black Thought. 

Cheat Codes came out in May, though I've only just come to it following a series of official videos, directed by UNCANNY aka George Muncey and Elliott Elder, popping up on YouTube in the last couple of weeks. 

 

The album is choc-full of guests, from Michael Kiwanuka, Kid Sister, Raekwon, A$AP Rocky, Run The Jewels and the late MF Doom (has it really been nearly two years since he passed?) but none outpace Black Thought's erudite and articulate lead.

I've been a fan of Danger Mouse's work since the inclusion of Ghetto Pop Life, his classic with Jemini, appeared on a Jockey Slut covered mounted CD back in 2003 and grabbed my attention. Cheat Codes is going to be another contender for my end of year lists.

 

 

Aquamarine (ft. Michael Kiwanuka)

The Darkest Part (ft. Raekwon & Kid Sister)

Belize (ft. MF Doom)

Strangers (ft. A$AP Rocky & Run The Jewels)

Ain't Hip Hop To Be A Hippie

Happy hip hop Monday, with just over half an hour of beats and rhymes to shake off the weekend.

 

1) Volcano (Four Tet Remix): Anti-Pop Consortium (2009)

2) Hazy Shade Of Criminal: Public Enemy (1992)

3) Ain't Hip To Be Labelled A Hippie (Single Version): De La Soul (1989)

4) Bucky Done Gun (Album Version): M.I.A. (2005)

5) Bad Boy (The Real Heat Remix): Young Fathers (2014)

6) Straight Outta Compton (Album Version): N.W.A. (1988)

7) Metaphysics: One Inch Punch (1996)

8) Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (Radio Edit): Beastie Boys ft. Santigold (2011)

9) Pro Nails (SMD Minimal Remix By Simian Mobile Disco) (Edit): Kid Sister (2008)

10) Gravel Pit (Radio Version): Wu-Tang Clan ft. Paulisa Moorman (2000)

 

Ain't Hip Hop To Be A Hippie (35:53)