NEW ALBUM: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND ~ I Am The Moon: II. Ascension

[Ruby]

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND ~ I Am The Moon: II. Ascension



I haven’t taken the time to listen to the Tedeschi Trucks Band properly before. Have to say, this album was a pleasant surprise. No jarring moments – super competent blues/rock and some splendiferous soulful moments.
 

This is actually the second of a four album project – copy and paste here from their site … https://www.tedeschitrucksband.com/i-am-the-moon - 

"The project I Am The Moon, started taking shape in May, 2020, two months after the band was forced off the road by lockdown. Mike Mattison sent an email to Derek, Susan, Gabe and Tyler with a suggestion for the group: read Layla and Majnun. Written by the 12th Century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, the poem is an enduring tale of star-crossed devotion and was the title inspiration for Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.  – an influential album for TTB.  But Ganjavi’s vast 100-page poem resonated with Mike in an altogether diSfferent way. Mike explains that, the Clapton album is one point of view, Layla as this love object: 'I want you, I can't have you.'" But after Mattison read the original work, "I realized there are many things going on from different perspectives" and proposed, in his email, "revisiting this material as a band, as writers."

"When Mike said, 'Well, what does Layla think about all this?', I thought that was an amazing way to look at the story," Trucks says. I Am The Moon was written collectively and collaboratively, with band members contributing different perspectives on the poem. By January 2021 the band was recording at Tedeschi and Trucks' home studio, Swamp Raga, in Jacksonville, FL, with Derek behind the board as producer.”

There are four corresponding films that go with the music, none of which I’ve seen. The 3rd and 4th albums are being released later this month and in late August respectively. I went back and listened to the first album in the series – found this second one more appealing, but that’s not to say the I Am The Moon: I. Crescent was not listenable – it is – just a different vibe, by design, I’m sure, and the title track is gorgeous …

I like that there are middle eastern sounds permeating II especially, they tie in with the origins of the concept. The cover art on this one is great too, IMHO. Susan Tedeschi has a powerful voice with a nice warm timbre, the harmonies are fab so good secondary vocalists as well, and all of them are seasoned musicians who know what they’re doing. Worth a hearing if you’re in the mood for something that’s easy on the ear - and the psyche.

Fave – “All the Love” ...

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
i only have one of their albums, "revelator".
that one is good, not sure why i didnt go back for more???

i love the cover art of the one posted above,
listened to the linked title track, that one was really good.

[Ruby]

.... and the third in series has been released - I Am The Moon: III. The Fall. Not as enamoured of this one as I was with II, but it has its moments and is pleasant enough - nothing that makes me not want to hear it. Some honky tonk happening here and there, pretty funky and no question at all of their musicianship, generally. Quite nice to listen to something outside of my usual choices - one standout just because it fell well around my ears at the time ... a bit old timey, simple yet effective, IMHO, and I really like Mike Mattison's voice ... 

[R_burke]

"a bit old timey, simple yet effective, IMHO, and I really like Mike Mattison's voice ... "  

He has several releases with his band Scrapomatic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOyLo9QaCo

[Ruby]

"a bit old timey, simple yet effective, IMHO, and I really like Mike Mattison's voice ... "  

He has several releases with his band Scrapomatic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOyLo9QaCo

Sorry for the very delayed reply R_burke! Thank you for the link - I've had a little delve into his solo stuff as well. Think I prefer the music that results when he and Derek Trucks work together. Maybe it's that old timey thing - it's more marked - he seems to sound a lot more like the 60's on his own. I see he's co-authored a book - Poetic Song Verse: Blues-Based Popular Music and Poetry - no slouch in the words department!

I've now listened to the final chapter of this quite ambitious four album saga - I AM THE MOON: IV. Farewell, and interestingly, as with III also most enjoyed the track on which he provides the vocals. Not a whole lot to write home about otherwise, IMHO - although pleasant enough and well executed.  

"Where are My Friends?"