7

The second album from Sault dropped in late 2019 just a few months after their triumphant debut 5, and 7 could be thought of as the second half of their debut double album. The sound is similar enough to the first album, full of that distinctive stark, funky, retro-flavoured, live-feel raw bass and drum soul/punk-funk aesthetic, with tracks like “Living in America” little more than funky snare licks, a moody post-punk b-line and vocals. Likewise, “Tip Toe” adds the slimmest of guitar riffs but is little more than the rhythm section and vocals and what might be some strings in the background. It’s a direct, live-sounding album with little ornamentation, almost austere as though it takes the business of making people dance very seriously, but 7 also delivers more sunny and buoyant moments too. Essentialist R’n’B, raw dub disco and retro-futurist funk.