Despite having released two acclaimed albums in 2020, SAULT remain a very enigmatic project. I mean who knows who is hidden behind this mysterious, visionary collective that blend together gospel, reggae, funk, rhythm and blues, house and disco amongst others? Maybe producer Inflo or Cleo Sol, who have been both credited several times on their previous releases? Nothing is certain. And it’s not the elusive concept of their fifth album that will dispel the fog.

Teased via a countdown on their website, NINE will be available for download and stream for 99 days. After that, the project will go up in smoke (as shown with the matches on the cover). We already knew some artists who decided to skip streaming platforms, like Joanna Newsom or Skee Mask more recently, with his excellent Bandcamp exclusive Pool, but this concept goes one step further, questioning the timeless side of music – a bit like Banksy‘s self-destructed painting. Besides the buzzy concept, this could be a good way to push people to get back to buying music, which is tremendously more sustainable than streaming for artists. NINE will be pressed to vinyl so be sure to get your copy on time.

In the meantime, revisit their amazing track “Wildfires,” taken from their 2020 album Untitled (Black Is), below.

Like every year, our team vote for their favourite tracks of the year. You can stream this list, as well as other tracks that were close to entering the top, via our Spotify and Apple Music playlists below. You can also check our Best Albums and Best EPs/Mixtapes of 2020.

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50. Julia-Sophie – “x0x”

49. Blue Hawaii – “Not my Boss!”

48. Zelma Stone – “Fly”

47. Young Ejecta – “Crayon Cactus”

46. Sedona – “Crying On My Own”

45. Zoee – “Rio’s”

44. Prince Innocence – “Angelyne”

43. Laura Groves – “Foolish Games”

42. Cindy Lee – “I Want You To Suffer”

41. Lido Pimienta- “Eso Que Tu Haces”

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40. Jayda G – “Both Of Us”

39. NNAMDÏ – “Perfect In My Mind”

38. Lomelda – “Hannah Sun”

37. Braids – “Young Buck”

36. Against All Logic, Estado Unido, FKA Twigs – “Alucinao”

35. oklou – “unearth me”

34. Kate NV – “Sayonara”

33. Agar Agar – “Nap”

32. Annie – “The Streets Where I Belong”

31. Beadadoobee – “Worth it”

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30. TOPS – “I Feel Alive”

29. Yves Tumor – “Gospel For A New Century”

28. Dua Lipa – “Physical”

27. Cakes da Killa, Proper Villains – “Don Dada”

26. Namasenda – “Wanted”

25. Ultraflex – “Never Forget My Baby”

24. Shamir – “On My Own”

23. Discovery Zone – “Dance II”

22. Couch Prints – “Of Drawing”

21. Nilüfer Yanya – “Crash”

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20. Cindy – “2y & 6m”

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19. Bullion – “We Had A Good Time”

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18. Kelly Lee Owens – “Melt!”

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17. Phoebe Bridgers – “Garden Song”

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16. Waxahatchee – “Can’t Do Much”

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15. Maria Minerva – “Apology”

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14. Shygirl – “FREAK”

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13. Jónsi, Robyn – “Salt Licorice”

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12. Perfume Genius – “On The Floor”

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11. Ela Minus – “Megapunk”

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10. Romy – “Lifetime”

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9. SAULT – “Wildfires”

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8. Soccer Mommy – “circle the drain”

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7. Eartheater – “Below The Clavicle”

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6. Helena Deland – “Comfort, Edge”

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5. Fiona Apple – “I Want You To Love Me”

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4. Charli XCX – “Forever”

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3. Dehd – “Loner”

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2. Christine and the Queens – “People, I’ve Been Sad”

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1. 070 Shake – “Guilty Conscience”

We’re only 6 months into 2020 and it actually feels that the world as we know it is about to collapse. Who knows what’s coming next? For better or worse, a lot of things are simultaneously happening around us and music has been an essential way to find hope and kill time. In 2020, artists need us more than ever and, in case you did not figure it out while being stuck at home, we also need them. Can you really imagine a lockdown without music? We can’t. As we’re now at the mid-way point of this exceptionally horrible year, it’s time to share with you, like every year, the 30 tracks that have helped us to hold on so far. If you need more to cheer you up, you can also explore our other favourite tracks of 2020 via our Spotify and Apple Music playlists below.

070 Shake – “Guilty Conscience”
Agar Agar – “Nap”
Annie – “American Cars”
Boyish – “AnDroGay”
Caribou – “Never Come Back”
Charli XCX – “forever”
Christine and the Queens – “People, I’ve been sad”
Cindy – “Never Let Me Go”
Cindy Lee – “I Want You To Suffer”
Couch Prints – “Of Drawing”
Discovery Zone – “Blissful Morning Dream Interpretation Melody”
Dua Lipa – “Physical”
Fiona Apple – “Shameika”
Geranium – “Separate Life”
Kate NV – “Sayonara”
Magdalena Bay – “Airplane”
Moses Sumney – “Virile”
MOTHERMARY – “Catch Fire”
Perfume Genius – “On The Floor”
Phoebe Bridgers – “Garden Song”
Planet 1999 – “Party”
SAULT – “Wildfires”
Soccer Mommy – “circle the drain”
TOPS – “Direct Sunlight”
Waxahatchee – “Can’t Do Much”
Yaeji – “When I Grow Up”
Young Ejecta – “Crayon Cactus”
Yves Tumor – “Gospel For A New Century”
Zelma Stone – “Dreamland”
Zoee – “Rio’s”

This week, so good to see Deer Du Bois back with a brand new playlist full of fresh tunes! Get on an introspective search for your inner pop-soul

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This week we bring you new soul-searching tracks from all over the globe, starting with the newest Dirty Projectors song “Keep Your Name.” Smooth out the ripples in your mind with the soothing “Been Waitin” by upcoming UK singer Kileco. There is also the immersive experience of Moses Sumney that really “Worth It”! A track which is also featured on our daily-refreshed Spotify’s playlist “Daily Dose For Music Junkies“

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With “Fences” by Saults the tantric high will get you floating, just enough to get bouncy on Kero Kero Bonito‘s “Trampoline”. A well-deserved pop break!

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And thanks to the amazing Cascine label we got introduced to the pulsing new pop star NOIA and her amazing “Nostalgia Del Futuro.” She’s back with “Love Hack.” Tay Salem is threading his own way with his new stunning track.

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And to top it off, our dearest Mr. Little Jeans is back with a dark neon 80s track “Stitches”.

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New Wave New Age New Pop New Love.

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If you want to drink a bit more until you get tipsy, you should check him on Facebook and Soundcloud, and follow his regular posts on our site.

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