Van’s first exertion following a frustrated three-year hiatus after the failure of Veedon Fleece is a breezy and brief affair, as well as a deep dive into New Orleans influenced gospel and R&B, replete with fine performances from the artist and his band. Working with Dr. John as a producer, the record certainly does not belie its title – it’s unquestionably a departure from his previous masterpiece. Somewhat surprisingly, he doesn’t always seem at home in what might feel like a natural idiom. Soul workouts like “It Fills You Up” never really catch fire, and closing track “A Cold Wind In August” seems to strive for some of the slow building profundity of his earlier work, but the effect is curiously forced. A Period Of Transition has a nice, gospel-tinged laissez les bon temps rouler vibe to it, abundant horns and lots of spots where Van really goes for it. But, inevitably, when transitioning away from something like Veedon Fleece, the results are going to be mixed at best.