Alabama Shakes are finally back with new music! "Tea Time" opens their first album in more than a decade, I Must Be Dreaming, and it is quite an interesting way to reintroduce yourself. Instead of immediately coming out with an enormous blues-rock song, the band gives us something much dreamier.

The first thing I noticed is the bass. It has this thick, walking quality underneath the track, while flute sounds float around everything above it. The drums keep a pretty steady pulse and Brittany Howard's vocals are surprisingly soft. There are moments where the track almost feels like it is hovering rather than moving forward.

I really like this kind of psychedelic soul music. There are certain moments that give me the same feeling I get listening to artists like D'Angelo, even though Alabama Shakes obviously approach that sound from a completely different direction. Everything feels warm, slightly dirty and very human. Nothing is overly shiny.

Brittany Howard sounds absolutely fantastic. She has one of those voices where you immediately recognise the person singing, which I think is one of the greatest qualities any vocalist can have. What I especially enjoy here is that she does not spend the entire track showing you how powerful her voice can be. There is restraint. When you already know somebody can blow the roof off a building, hearing them sing quietly can sometimes be even more effective.

I have seen some people describe "Tea Time" as slightly meandering, and I actually understand that criticism. The song does wander around for a while. Personally, though, I think that is part of what makes it interesting. Not every track needs to move directly from verse to chorus to verse to chorus. Sometimes it is nice hearing musicians explore a groove and let things develop naturally.

Doing some research, I Must Be Dreaming was produced by Alabama Shakes alongside Shawn Everett, who has worked with them before. The album was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios and Blackbird Studio in Nashville, and apparently pushes even further into psychedelic soul than Sound & Color. That is very exciting to me because Sound & Color already showed how difficult this band is to place inside one genre.

Apparently Brittany Howard has also described "Tea Time" as one of her favourites on the new album, which I can understand. It feels like a song made by musicians who are enjoying playing together again. That might sound like an incredibly simple compliment, but I think you can really hear it.

"Tea Time" is soulful, dreamy and slightly weird. It does not immediately hit you over the head, but the little instrumental details slowly start revealing themselves the more you listen. After more than ten years away, Alabama Shakes sound less interested in recreating their past than figuring out where they can go next. Go give this one a spin!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!