"Untitled (God)" sees 2020’s “Untitled” titular theme continue with what, for all intents and purposes, is a gospel album. But SAULT have always left space in the room for God, so this is less of a jump than might be anticipated. At 21 tracks long, there is undoubtedly some weight that could have been trimmed, but the album manages to skillfully blend the slower, blissful numbers where it’s possible to bask in the wonder of God’s glory and the euphoria of a foot-stomping, testifying uptempo song of praise. 

The two opening songs reflect that well—“I Am Free” is a delightful, elegiac piece of music led by strings that gives way to bubbling bass and a beat that snaps like an alligator’s jaws on “God Is Love.” Better still, though, is “Spirit High” that squeezes both approaches into two-and-a-half minutes. It opens with the fervor of the choir and stark bass and drums before switching down to a serene slice of bliss with Cleo Sol on vocals. 

Another aspect of the album worth noting is the expansion of the collective. Alongside the ever-magnificent Cleo Sol are SAULT alumni Little Simz (“Free”) and Michael Kiwanuka (“Colour Blind”) and new voices that add even more quality to the proceedings. Chronixx first popped up on the recent EP X and makes more appearances here, including a wonderful duet with Sol on “Love Will Free Your Mind.” Meanwhile, on one of the standout tracks “God In Disguise,” there’s a new (as yet unidentified) voice. It also sounds like it could have been ripped from the recently unveiled Charles Stepney album "Step on Step", as it shares a similar musical DNA. One part of the collective that sometimes gets overlooked is Melisa Young (a.k.a. Kid Sister), but here she contributes her infallible tones to the same great effect as on previous outings. Here she prays to God with producer Inflo’s incredible orchestration behind her on “Guide My Steps” and it’s honestly enough to turn a devil worshipping Satanist to a devout believer. 

There are occasions when songs meander and lose their shape and purpose (“I Surrender,” for example), but even those have details that catch the ear. On “Safe Within Your Hands,” there’s a deliciously wonky piano that brings to mind church halls the world over, rather than a state of the art recording studio, thereby giving it a layer of charm that offsets the misgivings about other aspects of the song.

The range on just this one album is impressive, let alone across all five releases. — (via Albumism)

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Label: Forever Living Originals
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Released: Apr 14, 2023
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Contemporary R&B
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File under: Contemporary R&B