Sault Untitled (Rise)

Optimal pressing.
The fourth album by Sault scored 97/100 at Metacritic and is the most beloved album at HHVs Supreme 100 of 2020 list, chosen by 150 journalists, musicians, label makers and record collectors.

Sault - Untitled (Rise), released in September 2020, is the follow-up to Untitled (Black Is) and serves as a companion piece to that earlier album. While Untitled (Black Is) focuses on themes of Black identity, struggle, and resilience in the face of systemic racism, Untitled (Rise) takes a more hopeful and celebratory approach. It explores empowerment, joy, and community, offering a sense of uplift and liberation alongside the weightier topics of social justice.

Untitled (Rise) retains the genre-blurring approach that defines Sault’s music, blending soul, funk, Afrobeat, gospel, R&B, and dance rhythms. However, the tone of Rise is generally more upbeat and celebratory compared to the heavier, introspective nature of Black Is. The album captures the feeling of dancing through adversity and finding joy despite the struggle. Its rhythms are infectious, and many tracks are designed to feel anthemic, with powerful group vocals and chants reinforcing themes of collective strength.

Lyrically, Untitled (Rise) touches on similar themes to Black Is, such as Black empowerment, pride, and resistance, but it emphasizes victory and triumph. The album feels like a call to action, but also a celebration of perseverance, healing, and unity.

Key Tracks:
"Strong" – A powerful and uplifting anthem about resilience and overcoming adversity. It features a driving rhythm and empowering lyrics, with group vocals that evoke a sense of unity and strength.
"Fearless" – A rhythmic, upbeat track with Afrobeat-inspired grooves, it’s a call to reject fear and embrace courage, a recurring theme in the album.
"I Just Want to Dance" – One of the standout tracks, this song blends disco-funk elements with a carefree energy, symbolizing the need for joy and release even amidst struggles.
"Free" – A slower, more reflective song that underscores the desire for freedom—both personal and societal. It’s soulful and deeply emotional, with heartfelt vocals.
"Rise" – The title track serves as a rallying cry, encouraging listeners to rise above oppression and celebrate their identity and power. The song's infectious rhythm and group chants amplify the message of empowerment.
Tone and Emotional Arc: Where Black Is may have felt heavy with its focus on the injustices faced by Black people, Rise balances that with a more optimistic and celebratory tone. It conveys a message that while the fight for justice continues, there is always room for joy, self-love, and communal solidarity. The album often feels like a soundtrack to liberation, pairing its socio-political themes with music that’s meant to inspire movement, whether literally on the dance floor or metaphorically in terms of social action.

The flow of the album is dynamic, shifting between more meditative moments and high-energy, danceable tracks. The rhythmic pulse is a constant thread, grounding the album in African and diasporic traditions, while the vocal arrangements often feel like modern spirituals or chants for a collective uprising.

The production, likely spearheaded by Inflo, is tight and minimalist, yet rich in texture. Sault’s signature use of layered vocals, often with group harmonies and chants, continues to play a central role in Rise, contributing to the communal, uplifting feel of the album. As always, Sault’s members remain largely anonymous, though Cleo Sol and Kid Sister are thought to have contributed vocally to the project.

Untitled (Rise) was met with widespread critical acclaim, much like its predecessor. Reviewers praised the album for its optimism and energy, viewing it as a necessary counterpart to Black Is. While Black Is was seen as an urgent protest album, Rise was lauded for its focus on joy, hope, and empowerment, making it feel like a musical celebration of survival and thriving.

The duality of these two albums—Black Is and Rise—allows Sault to capture a full spectrum of the Black experience, from pain and protest to resilience and celebration. Together, they form a powerful artistic statement on the complexities of identity and struggle.