Chris Robinson has clearly learned that one of the most important keys to success is proper preparation. On Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel, it’s obvious that he and his band did their homework. On their fourth studio album, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood show off their unity and soul with a set of songs that perfectly utilize the skills and easy musical camaraderie that the band has built through years of sharing stages and tour buses. Having put in that time to completely gel as a unit, the band is free to further explore the southern fried soulful and funky results of the interplay of their various talents, which they do to great effect on their newest album.
The band’s bubbling, southern psychedelic sound has evolved since their last studio album, 2014’s Phosphorescent Harvest, adding a richness and a depth beyond any previous work. While obviously the star of the show, Robinson shares sonic space freely with his collaborators, particularly guitarist Neal Casal and keyboardist Adam MacDougall. Both men have powerful musical voices but manage to work in harmony with each other, all under the emotive drawl and chords of Robinson.
“Narcissus Soaking Wet” opens the disc with a dreamlike intro that slowly coalesces into a funky, cosmic groove which casts a powerful spell from the very first notes. A slinky guitar line blends with a percolating organ from keyboardist and song co-writer MacDougall before expanding to a trance-like jam from the heart of the early seventies. Casal’s use of slide on the following “Forever As The Moon” is suitably restrained so that the majestic sound of his chords doesn’t drown out the rest of the piece. Here Casal, as throughout these recordings, takes great care to serve the song not his own ego, managing to compliment but never overwhelm the mid tempo tune with his peels of guitar joy.
Whether tossing off a floating, quirky quasi-instrumental like “Give Us Back Our Eleven Days” or allowing Robinson and Casal let their jamming do the talking for them in the impressive outro on “Leave My Guitar Alone.” Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel never loses sight of its tone and pace. “Oak Apple Day” exemplifies the languid and funky approach that is the order of the day, with all the hallmarks of the album prominently on display. Syrupy guitar leads, reedy organ flourishes and a call-and-response lyric that has Robinson entreating listeners to “Relax Your Mind,” which sums up the albums lyrical and sonic intent perfectly. Closing the album with “California Hymn” Robinson’s roots show the strongest with a plaintive pedal steel guitar and his charming drawl both turned up to their highest intensity, sending listeners out with a last moment of righteous fire.
“All it takes is one good, small idea, and then if everyone’s focused and in the moment, a few hours later, you can have something that you realize you’ll be playing for as long as you’re making music,” said Robinson in a statement. “I think when everyone’s aware that that’s the sort of magic that we’re looking for. More than any other session that I’ve ever been a part of, that’s how all of these songs were done.”
As is often the case, having a strongly defined musical identity can be a double edged sword for a band. While obviously great care has been shown to make each track open and accessible, the soul and spirit behind them is personal and pervasive. Chris Robinson and his band aren’t trying to please the world, they’re just making the best music they can, and they’ve done themselves proud with this album. Flowing like a twisting and turning river that wanders but never loses sight of its destination, Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel delivers a wonderful escape from the maddening beat of the modern world. As gifts go, a sanctuary for the soul, no matter how momentary, is a true blessing well worth sharing.
Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel is due out this Friday, July 29th. You can find information about ordering the album here.