What began as an experiment has proved to have lasting legs. If you were to read this quote from co-founder Dave Alvin out of context, you’d swear it pertains to an avant-garde, improvising group. “It’s five musicians walking a tightrope, improvising in dialogue with each other and finding the songs in real time.” Yet, this is The Third Mind, a psychedelic rock supergroup inspired by Miles Davis’ improvisational work, which now returns with their third studio album, the aptly titled Right Now!
The other co-founder is bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom). He and Alvin enlisted Krummenacher’s bandmate, guitarist David Immergluck, drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, John Cale), and singer/songwriter Jesse Sykes (Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter). We also find pianist/organist Willie Aron, who has been touring with the group, on this record.
Concerning the improvisational nature of the group, three consistent elements are at play. As with the previous two releases, the repertoire draws from the 1960s songbook, primarily folk, but also embracing other genres of the era. Secondly, they cut everything live in the studio in just two or three takes with the musicians in a circle facing each other. Thirdly, due to Dave Alvin’s penchant to dig deeply into the blues, those strains prevail throughout each of these records. Here, like on the previous two albums, the group mostly gravitates toward darker material. Even if that weren’t the case, vocalist Sykes has such an intimate, haunting quality to her voice that she imbues a dark quality in almost everything she approaches. There is at least one exception on this album, which we’ll get to later.
The band loves folksinger Fred Neil, and they kick off the seven-song set with Neil’s 1966 version of Elizabeth Cotten’s “Shake Sugaree,” the Third Mind’s guitar-heavy (Immergluck on pedal steel) interpretation sounding nothing like The Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Rhiannon Giddens, and others who have covered it. They cover the venerable murder ballad “Pretty Polly,” a tune done by Judy Collins, of all people. Yet the Third Mind here, with the dual electric guitars, sends it toward Neil Young & Crazy Horse territory. This blistering, mind-bending jam-like approach extends into the only original, “Before We Said Goodbye,” penned by Alvin and Sykes, a tune that, more than any here, reveals the psychedelic tones of those late ‘60s albums from the likes of Jefferson Airplane and Quick Silver Messenger Service.
The Third Mind completely transforms Mimi and Richard Farina’s “Reno, Nevada,” the second single, into a blues stomper as Alvin and Sykes share the vocals. Sykes exerts her commanding, foreboding presence in the standout “Reap What You Sow,” written by Mike Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites for Otis Rush. Alvin and Immergluck trade combustible lines that would make Rush proud. Aron’s B3 subtly underpins Sykes’ prominent vocal and revs up in concert with the two explosive guitarists. The first released single is their cover of Jesse Colin Young and The Youngbloods, “Darkness, Darkness,” slightly changing the scorching live wire attack with Immergluck on electric mandolin rather than electric guitar. Nonetheless, it remains as delightfully hot as any other.
The group again selects a ‘60s progressive jazz piece, as they did on their first album with Alice Coltrane’s “Journey to Satchidananda.” Here, they veer from the dark songs, with their take on Pharoah Sanders/Leon Thomas’ “The Creator Has a Master Plan,” replacing Leon Thomas’ legendary yodeling on the original, with a smooth vocal from Sykes, and such instrumental touches as electric mandolin, sound effects, and prepared piano. Yet, Alvin stretches higher and higher in his bluesy solo, invoking the spiritual powers in much the same way Sanders did on his tenor.
The Third Mind at this point seems an unstoppable force. Right Now! is their strongest yet, thanks in part to multiple genres in just these seven glowing tracks.
2 Responses
Awesome adventure!
This band has been an amazing discovery. I love every single track I’ve heard.