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— SAULT (@SaultGlobal) November 1, 2022

Now… if you’ve ever gotten to know me, you may be aware that I’ve got a special place in my heart for music that is surprising. Whether it’s general amazement at the talent of a band like black midi, or the whimsy and mysticism of The Smile; I love a secret, I love a surprise. That being said, if any project has spent their time really leaning into the element of surprise, then SAULT are the one to take the crown – in my opinion. Since their debut, 5, back in 2019, the group have maintained a level of mystery rivalling that of Daft Punk, other than the almost obvious production credits from Inflo, and vocal appearances from Cleo Sol and Kid Sister; everything else is pretty much under wraps. The group have never played live, released a music video, or given an interview; they also have quite a substantial list of unnamed collaborators.

I mused back in April, after the group gave us their last offering – Air – that there would be another release this year. So even if I didn’t figure out the passwords for myself, I’ll feel good about myself. My speculation may not have been spot on, but the parallels to the 99-day release window for last year’s Nine meant that something had to be brewing.

After a quick listen to each of the LPs, there are some obvious directions that can be seen in previous works. Airr, for example, follows the more symphonic, ethereal style of April’s Air. (Untitled) God seems obviously in sync with its other Untitled siblings, Earth leans more into African-style dance music, while Today & Tomorrow could have easily been written 50 years ago. With 11, I’m continuing my semi-grounded conspiracy that 5, 7, and 9 are all one continuous project and constantly being updated. I think it fits musically, and thematically. Good luck with those passwords.