Tedeschi Trucks Band - I Am The Moon: III. The Fall
Tedeschi Trucks Band
I Am The Moon: III. The Fall
(Fantasy)
9/10
By Paul Davies
Toggling between southern rock, soul, and funky blues, this is the third I Am The Moon instalment - in a series of four recordings - that displays the Tedeschi Trucks Band breadth and control over a range of musical genres and instrumentation as Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks pilot an enchanting journey into their sonic soul. This six song cycle captures the spirit and tone of the previous two: Crescent and Ascension, in as much as it does the overall ambience created here by this charmful assembly of players.
Far from hitting the standard beats, there are sumptuous songs within that begins with the sublime slinkiness of Somehow where gossamer like delicate slide from Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s buttery vocals whip up a doozy of an album opener that is part composed by the band's keyboard player Gabe Dixon. None Above continues the understated tuneful power that thrums throughout this recording on a co-write between Mike Mattison and Tedeschi. Then things truly get down and funky on the Susan Tedeschi penned Yes We Will where all the elements of blues, groove, funk and understated supreme musicianship inveigle themselves into the soul of the listener. It’s a jewel of a track that fits perfectly in the songwriting crown of this Jacksonville group.
Bringing the pace down on Gravity, keyboard player Gabe Dixon takes lead vocals on another co-write with sleazy horns to the fore. A soaring slide trill by Trucks on this honky tonk sizzler has a Dr John/Allman Bros feel staked right through its heart that vivifies the vibe of this classy collection of tunes. To further showcase their collective approach, Mike Mattison returns on his composition Emmaline delivering a soulful vocal on this beguiling ballad. And as the beautiful slow burning closer Take Me As I Am finally stubs itself out, it's worth remembering that it's eleven years since the release of their debut album Revelator. This series is a resounding revelation.
