Acts of Faith (album)
Acts of Faith | ||||
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![]() The download of Acts of Faith was paired with this graphic, which includes a screenshot from the live performance's accompanying video projection | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 July 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:09 | |||
Label | Forever Living Originals | |||
Producer | Inflo | |||
Sault chronology | ||||
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Acts of Faith is the eleventh studio album from British R&B musical group Sault. Originally previewed in December 2023 at a one-night only concert in London[1] (which was the group's first performance),[2] the album was released for free as a continuous single track via digital distribution on 6 July 2024.[3]
Reception
[edit]The live debut of Acts of Faith was met with positive reviews from critics and featured the musicians in masks, accompanied by ballet and fashion show performances,[4] with this music accompanied by songs from across their career and a seven-song African Section that led into it.[5] In The Daily Telegraph, Ali Shutler rated the show 5 out of 5 stars, stating that it was "part fashion show, part otherworldly escape, the first chunk of Sault's near-three hour concert began with a handful of the collective's more ethereal numbers as figures marched up and down the main runway".[6] In The Evening Standard, El Hunt also gave this show 5 out of 5 stars, calling it the live event of the year, stating that "calling what unfolded next a plain old 'gig' feels disingenuous; like referring to an all you can eat buffet as a 'light snack', or calling the Sistine Chapel a decent bit of interior design".[7] Stevie Chick of The Guardian gave the show five out of five stars and wrote that "their eclecticism is dazzling but grounded in substance, their anthems aiming at the feet and the heart with equal accuracy" making for an "immersive, eclectic, astonishing three hours".[8]
Upon the album's release, Bill Pearis of BrooklynVegan called this "yet another stunner" from the group that is "a joyous rumination on faith".[9] Writing for Radio New Zealand, Tony Stamp noted the religious themes and uplifting lyrics in the music and responded to the band's mystique by summing up, "everything on record is so substantive, and enriching, that the gimmicks feel justified".[10]
Track listing
[edit]- "Acts of Faith" – 32:09
The album version of Acts of Faith was released as a single, continuous .WAV file and several outlets have noted that the music matches the setlist from the live debut:[11]
- "Survivor"
- "Set Your Spirit Free"
- "God Will Help You"
- "Heal"
- "Turn It Around"
- "Lessons"
- "Only for You"
- "Signs"
- "Pray for Me"
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "'Acts of Faith' Unveiled: SAULT's Live Debut in London". Latest News. Jambands.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (14 December 2023). "Watch SAULT Play First-Ever Live Show In London". News. Stereogum. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (6 July 2024). "Sault Share New Album Acts of Faith". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Watch footage of Sault's first ever live show in London". News. The Line of Best Fit. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Rigotti, Alex (15 December 2023). "Watch SAULT's spectacularly immersive first live show, including Little Simz appearance". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Shutler, Ali (15 December 2023). "Sault: a breathtaking, ambitious first live show from the mysterious soul collective". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Hunt, El (15 December 2023). "Sault live at Drumsheds review: Show of the year? That's an understatement – this is an all-timer". Culture | Music. The Evening Standard. ISSN 2041-4404. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Chick, Stevie (15 December 2023). "Sault review – utterly astonishing debut show by UK soul enigmas". Music. The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (12 July 2024). "Album reviews: Font, SAULT, Metronomy, Wolfgang Press, more". Indie Basement. BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Stamp, Tony (21 July 2024). "Review: Acts of Faith by SAULT". The Sampler. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (15 December 2023). "Sault – Drumsheds, London; Set List, Video". News. Clash Music. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Acts of Faith at MusicBrainz (list of releases)