Toto’s release of 2006’s Falling in Between marked seven years since we were treated to a full-length LP of new material, and expectations were high. Fueling those expectations were online updates from Steve Lukather about the making of the album.
“We now can say it officially: the title of the new Toto record will be Falling in Between,” he announced back then. “Artsy and cool sounding and it defines us musically as falling in between styles and falling in between being young and old. … It describes our music as no one can put us in one box style wise, never have been able to. We have fallen in between the cracks, as we play so many styles.”
As if to cement that assertion, the title cut blows away any mental cobwebs one may have of that classic Toto sound. Opening with a mixed-metered piano riff atop a punctuated rock blast, this intro is arresting. The production values are reassuringly still there, but something is different. An Indian tone and raga-like pattern permeates the mix and brings a sense of foreboding to the fore.
This sounds different … Is it world-music?
Before you have a chance to consider the intro, the verse kicks in immediately and we are catapulted into a Led Zeppelin-inspired riff, with Bobby Kimball screaming into the mic. The beat is relentless.
This is head-banging stuff … Is it heavy-metal?
To punctuate the end of each line guitarist Steve Lukather and drummer Simon Phillips launch into a wicked fast display of dextrous technique with a torrent of notes.
This is aggressive musicianship … Is it prog-rock?
Before we know it, the chorus kicks in and a further twist is added; there’s a different vocal in the mix. New Toto keyboardist Greg Phillinganes (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton) steps to the plate and knocks it out of the park with confident vocals and a dash of keyboard wizardry – because he can.
At this stage, one begins to wonder where Toto are going with “Falling in Between.”
The liner notes from the album provide revealing insight:
Bobby: “It started out as a Luke-jam on guitar and the band fell into the groove and we had a great beginning to a Led Zep-esque song.”
Greg: “I remember Luke and [David] Paich wanting to go in the direction of a prog rock piece ala Led Zeppelin or Yes. We all played on this one … at the same time!”
David: “I remembered a small idea I had just after the tsunami tragedy. [Violinist] Shenkar had called me and asked if I would write something for his country, India. I had that part and it became the intro.”
Another verse and chorus follows, before a crescendo of synthesizers and vocals ratchets up the tension, punctuated by a maniacal laugh from Bobby, immediately halting the proceedings.
A syncopated groove follows, with some extended chord voicings and cool synth solo lines. It’s an unfettered display of a band at their prime jamming together.
This is sophisticated with a rock edge … Is it jazz fusion?
A snare (always sounded like a rifle-cocking to me, for some reason) cuts short the interlude and we’re treated to a mix of all the elements to date: middle Eastern-sounding violin and vocals (performed by Shenker, also known as L. Shankar, himself), hard-rock guitars, prog pyrotechnics, jazz syncopation, fusion lead sounds, complex meters, and ethereal soundscapes designed by founding member Steve Porcaro.
This is hard to classify. Is it Toto? … This is Falling in Between.
- Toto, “Spanish Sea” from ‘Old Is New’ (2018): Toto Tuesdays - June 15, 2021
- Toto, “Devil’s Tower” from ‘Old Is New’ (2018): Toto Tuesdays - May 11, 2021
- Toto, “Alone” from ‘Old Is New’ (2018): Toto Tuesdays - April 27, 2021
