Tedeschi Trucks Band - Signs

The Tedeschi Trucks Band are at the vanguard of contemporary soul and blues. Born of the union between Susan Tedeschi, a raspy soul singer whose voice projects a gospel strength, and Derek Trucks, a nephew of the late Butch Trucks, drummer with the Allman Brothers. Derek Trucks himself joined The Allman Brothers in 1999 at the age of 20 and has evolved into a slide guitarist widely considered as an instrumental voice for his generation.

On the new album for 2019, called Signs, Tedeschi and Trucks have stripped away some of the classic rock influences, opting for some cleverly paced songs, and culling some of the jamming excesses that could occasionally stretch credibility. What you get instead are some firelight soul anthems (Signs, High Times in particular), probably the strongest album opener I’ve heard in a while – synthesising the best of Tedeschi’s formidable soul voice with the slightly hysterical tones of Derek Trucks, reigning in his usual tendency to prolong foreplay, and getting to the point much more steadfastly. Ably supported by some backing voices I couldn’t identify (liner notes would have been helpful).

In fact, the first three tracks ‘Signs High Times’ ‘I’m Gonna Be There’ and ‘When Will I Begin’, are triumphant and sophisticated examples of contemporary soul and blues-rock, a style of music that has been unfairly exiled into a niche market, shielded away from the mainstream. On the subject of the mainstream, Tedeschi abandoned her Catholic upbringing in favour of attending African-American Baptist churches, learning to celebrate her faith away from the sorrowful leanings of a traditional church. In this environment, she learned to sing in a style not dissimilar to Aretha Franklin, although I’m not suggesting she has exactly the same reach, but that’s no slight on what is a magnificent voice. A voice that has matured into one with prescience and a strong volition; where the lyrics are only one means to ascertain the song’s meaning.

If the album occasionally falters with weaker tracks such as ‘Hard Case’, it makes up quickly with beautiful ones like ‘All The World’, a weary hymn that nonetheless comforts and reassures.

Classy effort.