GospelbeacH
Album: Pacific Surf Line
Label: Alive Natural Sounds
Tracks: 9
Website: http://www.facebook.com/GospelbeacHband

Fronted by Brent Rademaker, formerly bassist with Beachwood Sparks, this new California outfit features sometime Jakob Dylan guitarist and Everest founder Jason Soda, Kip Boardman, who'd played with Soda backing the Watson Twins, Beachwood Sparks drummer Tom Watson and Neal Casal, a musician whose extensive credits include Ryan Adams, Tift Merritt, Lucinda Williams, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and, yes, Beachwood Sparks, as well as 12 solo album.

Given the number of ex-members present, it's not too surprising to find they tread a similar Californian country sound, the album title and the opening track, 'Southern Steamer', inspired by the railroad line across the Southern California that replaced the famous Santa Fe Railway.

It's a warm, shimmering sunny affair built around chiming guitars and close harmonies, the band ethos probably encapsulated in the title of the track Sunshine Skyway, as they move between dreamy ballads like 'Your Freedom' (which features guitar by Ben Knight, another BS alumnus) and the retro Laurel Canyon vibe of 'Southern Girl' and more uptempo grooves such as Mick Jones with its psychedelic guitar freak out and 'Alone' with its CS&N echoes. The harmonies are particularly striking on 'Come Down' although, without sleeve credits, I can't be sure whether this is one of the tracks featuring Brian Wilson band member Nelson Bragg.

The album centerpiece is the six minute 'Out Of My Mind', a tempo shifting number that evokes thoughts of the Grateful Dead as, from a slow, simple guitar intro, it picks up speed and texture for the bustling midsection before a psychedelic swirl finale. It's not breaking any new ground, but fans of the genre won't regret booking a ticket.

Mike Davies