THE WORLD'S BEST NEW MUSIC

Emerging in 2019, SAULT, the elusive UK collective led by producer Inflo (Dean Cover) alongside Cleo Sol (Cleopatra Zvezdana Nikolic) and Jack Peñate, refreshed, if not redefined, modern British music. Their output seamlessly weaves funk, hip-hop and gospel into urgent social commentary. Landmark releases like Untitled (Black Is) (2020) and Untitled (Rise) (2020) soundtracked global movements, while later works explored choral textures and spiritual meditation. For Chapter 1, the collective bridges generations by collaborating with legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Known for their era-defining work with Janet Jackson and Prince, Jam & Lewis bring a "Flyte Tyme" sophistication to SAULT’s DIY ethos. Despite their prolific pace and refusal to engage in traditional promotion, SAULT remains a vital cultural force. Their identity is built on collective authorship and a refusal to separate art from moral context, treating each release as a vital chapter in an ongoing social practice that remains both mysterious and essential.

Within SAULT’s dense discography, Chapter 1 does not announce itself as a turning point; it acts as a sophisticated recalibration. Moving away from the symphonic weight of Air (2022) or the choral expanse of Untitled (God) (2022), this set is compact and song-focused. The inclusion of R&B royalty Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis is a masterstroke, grounding Inflo’s experimentalism in the "funky bottom and pretty top" philosophy that defined the Minneapolis sound. The writing prioritizes melody and intimacy, often favoring understatement over grand political declaration.

Musically, the album occupies a refined middle ground. The grooves are present but softened; the arrangements feel deliberate rather than expansive. On tracks like "Protector" (co-written by Danger Mouse), the sound is layered yet lean. Vocals sit closer to the listener, as Cleo Sol and Jack Peñate sound less like communal leaders and more like conversational partners. Rather than "business as usual," the record reads as a moment of consolidation. SAULT seems less interested in widening their palette than in perfecting it. ​