Tedeschi Trucks’ Gospel Soul

They call it Swamp Raga. Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi came up with that name for their home recording studio in Jacksonville, Florida, but it’s a fitting label for their sound as well. Bolstered by analog technology, tube amps, and vintage recording gear, the Tedeschi Trucks Band has a warm and soulful sound on their new album, pulsating with primal rhythms.

The band’s latest, Let Me Get By, is Trucks’ debut as sole producer, and his first since the Allmans called it quits last year. The ten-pack songlist is all originals, comprising some of the finest work the band has done to date.

On “Anyhow,” Tedeschi starts out moaning like a lost soul but ends up soaring, channeling the spirit and sound of Bonnie Raitt, while Derek conjures up Duane behind her.

“Laugh About It” sounds like a swamp church camp meeting revival, Tedeschi’s joyous whoops inspiring Trucks to swoop down and prod the congregation to glory with his Gibson.

“Don’t Know What It Means” is low down funk, Allman Brothers’ greasy glide grafted onto Sly and the Family Stone.

Sounding like a Stax 45 from the ’70s, “I Want More” throbs with Memphis soul.

Tedeschi has said the gospel aspect of the blues appealed to her at an early age, and singing in a gospel choir in college touched a chord deep down in her soul. Grafting the electric power of Magic Sam and Freddie King onto that shook her out of her early Linda Rondstadt stage, gliding her in the Bonnie Raitt direction.

Even though it’s a love song, “Hear Me” sounds like Raitt in church. With lyrics like “If you turn your back on me/ I won’t believe you don’t believe,” and a soulful choir sending up a chorus of churchy woo-woo’s in the background, it could pull off an extremely rare reverse crossover, going from rock to gospel.

Susan Tedeschi’s voice has always been compelling, but on this outing, her vocals exert a visceral pull that draws you in. It feels like family, offering you a warm, comforting place you can go back to and they have to let you in.