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Excitement builds for tonight’s highly-anticipated debut live show by Sault, the mysterious group led by producer Dean Josiah Cover, known as Inflo. In the past four years, they have released 11 albums, with five dropping all at once a year ago. Their impressive discography reflects the diverse evolution of Black music, delving deeper into spiritual and experimental sounds. It remains to be seen which version of Sault will take the stage tonight: the funky garage band, the soulful street musicians, or the creators of ethereal choral symphonies.
The confirmed answer is that all of the stages at Drumsheds’ main hall serve different purposes and come in varying sizes. To reach the main hall, one must walk through an open fridge and navigate through a winding installation made up of dirty tunnels and reflective gardens. The creators of this experience, Sault, intentionally want to disorient their audience and invite them to join them on their own terms. The set begins with a powerful tribal drum solo that lasts for over 20 minutes.
The various stages field string sections and harpists, banks of choristers and teams of dancers whose artful choreography and striking costuming serve as our eyes’ primary focus. Clad in ninja garb, the band play in the shadows or within a frosted-glass terrarium, the vocalists – including Cleo Sol and Little Simz – silhouettes cast on curtains or singing from behind a spectrum of veils. Sault may finally be in the building, but their enigma remains intact.
If the music was not consistently remarkable, the mystery surrounding it would have no significance. Their range of styles is impressive yet grounded in substance, with their songs evoking both physical and emotional responses: the symphonic sound of Time is Precious led by a choir; Simz’s captivating Fear No Man; and the intense and rhythmic Warrior. Dancehall sorrow transitions into a dreamy kalimba melody and then into a qawwali tune; the lively house beat of I Just Want to Dance is interrupted by a marching drumline; Michael Kiwanuka’s silhouette sings a heart-wrenching and stunning song, Colourblind.
It is a significant amount. With the hype surrounding Sault over the past four years and the expensive £100 ticket price, it was expected. However, this immersive and diverse three-hour experience establishes Cover and their collaborators as time-travelers exploring both the past and future of Afro culture. They are masked visionaries who effortlessly shift between humility and boldness. It is clear that there are no limits to their talents.
Source: theguardian.com
