North Mississippi Allstars - Set Sail

2022 release

Since releasing the scorching punk-blues outing Shake Hands with Shorty in 1999, Luther and Cody Dickinson, scions of the late, great producer and roots rock prophet Jim Dickinson, have made their North Mississippi Allstars a distinctive unit whose meld of Southern blues, folk, rockabilly, funk, and R&B enchanted the masses. That said, with over ten studio albums, they've yet to repeat themselves. Set Sail marks the band's first outing since 2019's star-studded Up & Rolling, and is their second for New West. Their ever-evolving lineup includes new bassist Jesse Williams and vocalist Lamar Williams, Jr., who sings lead on five songs. Gospel singer Sharisse Norman is the band's backing vocalist, and legendary Stax soulman William Bell sings on a track he co-wrote.

NMAS create a refreshing meld of organic Southern sounds drawn from deep soul and blues to lithe funk and psychedelia; combined, they present an easy vibe. Opener “Set Sail, Pt. 1” offers languid, steamy funk with Williams, Jr. up front. Its lyrics astutely comment on rising seas caused by climate change. The interplay of guitars, horns, chamber strings, electric piano, breakbeats, and droning bass support Williams' lead as Luther adds tasty single-line fills. Originally a ten-minute jam, its second half appears as the set's seventh track. Though "Bumpin'' is a sinister swamp blues drenched in reverbed guitar and martial drumming, it snakes and slithers under Luther's plaintive vocal and haunted synth. "See the Moon," a duet between Williams and Norman, struts with a funky beat before Luther vamps like Nile Rodgers on Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" as Cody breaks and bumps on snare and hi-hat; he also adds harmony vocals, a second bass, and guitar under a chunky clavichord. "Outside" is also fronted by Williams. He sings right at Luther's backmasked guitars as John Medeski's funky Wurlitzer piano pumps over tribal tom-tom grooves and a rumbling Williams bassline.

The guitarist's daughters, Lucia and Isla Belle Dickinson, back his lead vocal on the poignant, poetic, bittersweet Americana shuffle "Didn’t We Have a Time." "Never Want to Be Kissed" is a stunning vehicle for Bell. At 82, his voice remains supple and expressive; he has lost none of his control or power. Framed by a three-piece horn section and strings, Phyllislorena Smiley provides him a stirring backing chorus as Bell climbs above the band to emphatically deliver his heartbroken truth. Luther adds Steve Cropper-esque fills as the horns underscore Bell's every utterance. It's followed by the massively funky "Juicy Juice" that delivers a whomping bassline courtesy of Williams. “Rabbit Foot" weds Delta blues guitar to humid Southern-fried bass, keyboard, and drum funk as Williams sings with sultry intensity. The album closes with "Authentic." Featuring Medeski on B-3 and Dickinson's daughters on singalong backing vocals, this gentle yet empathic anthem celebrates family, friends, non-violence, positivity, and American music. Set Sail is easily the band's most mature, far-reaching, affirmative statement. Making it even more indispensable is that it is as infectiously danceable as it is life affirming.

Thom Jurek