Far from a second hand ute dealership, Tedeschi Trucks symbolises union. When guitarist Derek Trucks married vocalist Susan Tedeschi, it stitched up their solo bands too. Made Up Mind is the second baby born to this fruitful act of matrimony, a labour of no less than eleven seasoned blues and soul veterans.
Rooted in blues and soul, Tedeschi Trucks is a celebration and continuation of all the American heartland has to offer. Hard driving rockers (Made Up Mind), smoky bar-room soul (Do I Look Worried) and foot-stomping, hip-swinging Motown funk (Misunderstood) are all tempered with Susan Tedeschi’s smooth as fine whiskey soprano.
Acoustic country slides, finger picked blues and red-cheeked trumpeters blare in amongst their sun-shiny ensemble, every player allowed room to jam without trailing into self-indulgence. Derek and Susan even provide a soundscape map in the notes so theres no trouble picking your favourite player.
Lovelorn Part of Me appropriates equally from the Temptations and Otis Redding, as if poured their spirits into harmonies and horns. Tender soul ballad Sweet and Low is a hushed slow-dance for lovers shuffling around the dancefloor cheek-to-cheek, long after everyone’s gone home.
If you’ve a made up mind on this genre, it probably won’t win you over. Nevertheless, a tightly arranged record such as this doesn’t come around often. So warm is their energy, even the slower songs won’t yield for melancholy. Fans of blues, soul or a well played instrument will find more than one or two things to fall in love with.
BY TOM VALCANIS
Best Track:Misunderstood
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Motown and Stax artists of the ’60s and ’70s, ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD
In A Word: Rich
