Nine

Continuing their mission to be the most enigmatic/contrary act in contemporary music, when rogue soul/R’n’B/dub/afro/psychedelic/hip hop/punk-funk outfit Sault released their 5th album Nine in 2021, it was only available to stream or purchase for 90 days (although it can be found online easily enough). Taking London as its theme, it’s a strange and wonderful album, every bit as eclectic and diverse as the city itself. You get the simple, direct emotion of 21st-century folk-funk “Bitter Streets” which then develops orchestrated wings and soars off into its fade-out, raw, edgy punk funk track “London Gangs” which also contains a tranquil psychedelic interlude, a spoken word piece from Michael Ofo, the warmest of streetwise hip hop from the Little Simz-featuring “From London” and the delightful “Les Fleur” recalling title track. Strident yet subtle, another hard-hitting set from Sault.