The group SAULT is as prolific as they are mysterious. Not-so-secretly helmed by musical power couple Inflo and Cleo Sol, the collective has released over a dozen projects since 2019 in the form of two EPs and 11 albums. That eleventh album is the newly released Acts Of Faith, which SAULT gifted their adoring fanbase this Christmas Day in a drop that caught everyone by surprise. What isn’t a surprise, however, is how divine their latest collection of inspirational music is.
SAULT originally debuted the music heard on Acts Of Faith during their one-off Acts Of Faith concert in December 2023 in London. The sold-out, three-hour show was a once-in-a-lifetime live experience with the artists and musicians disguised in masks in their first, and thus far only, public appearance. The new songs were included on the career-spanning setlist, and this past July the group supplied fans with a free download of those songs as a single continuous WAV file entitled Acts Of Faith. They’ve now repackaged the set into a proper album featuring nine tracks.
Though SAULT thrives on anonymity, Acts Of Faith is produced entirely by Inflo, and Cleo Sol and he co-wrote all songs together, with the exception of the opening number “I Look For You” co-written with Jamar McNaughton. Like they’ve done on past releases, the project centers God and is heavy on Christian faith-based themes without being preachy or a straight-up gospel album. The SAULT crew delivers positive, uplifting and affirming messages on tracks that blend various genres into a modern neo-soul gospel hybrid.
Cleo Sol’s recognizable vocals are heard all over Acts Of Faith. She seeks God’s guidance on “I Look For You,” urges you to “Set Your Spirit Free” and encourages listeners to let go and let God on “God Will Help You Heal,” which segues flawlessly into “Heal.” Additional vocalists join Cleo on “Soul Clean” and “The Lesson Is Over,” both of which have a groovy 1970s sound similar to Rotary Connection’s “I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun.”
Sol shares a simple message about love on “Someone To Love You” over a bassline that slaps. She then focuses on purpose and alignment on “Signs.” The set ends on the ballad “Pray For Me.” Released as the lead single, Cleo yearns for prayer and learns to lean on her faith over a sound bed highlighted by piano and a string section.
SAULT’s Acts Of Faith is both soul-stirring and soul-soothing with meaningful songs meant to move you. Though the collective keeps their identity relatively under wraps, their love for God is loud and clear, and their music is their vehicle for spreading the gospel.
SAULT Acts Of Faith [Amazon][Apple Music][Bandcamp][TIDAL][Vinyl]
