[rating=8.00]
GospelbeacH (the capital ‘H’ is intentional) front man Brent Rademaker is well versed in making music with a retro stance. His previous outfits — Beachwood Sparks, Everest, The Tyde, were all well versed in a legacy antecedent. It’s little surprise then that GospelbeacH picks up on this perspective and makes music that could easily have been borne from the shimmering Southern California sounds of the Byrds, the Burritos, and CSN with and without the Y. If the title of the album doesn’t betray the intent, then suffice it to say a robust offering dubbed “California Fantasy” leaves no doubt at all as to where his resolve lies,
As with their exceptional debut, Pacific Coast Line, special guests make occasional cameos — Pat Sansone and Miranda Lee Richards in particular — but it’s clear that Rademaker and company are all too adept at recreating a breezy Laurel Canyon vibe that pervades the album overall. “In the Desert,” “Hangin’ On,” “(I Wanna See U) All the Time,” “You’re Already Home” echo the sound of the harmony-drenched country rock that easily ascended to the heights of new music consciousness in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. With the accessibility factor heavily weighed in, the music lends a deja vu-esque quality to the album overall.
Ultimately, GospelbeacH represents a step back in time and a stirring sound at that. There’s no obvious attempt to imitate, but the similarities to a certain vintage variety are unavoidable. Supple harmonies and an emphasis on the easy allure of crisp melodies and adroit execution prove that a winning formula is always a desirable asset. Add a snappy refrain of the type included on “Sad Country Boy” and “Kathleen,” and it becomes exceedingly clear that GospelbeacH has attained a gold standard of the sort set by so many of Rademaker’s heroes — McGuinn, Clark and Hillman included. Ultimately, that’s a gospel one can swear by.
