California – Good Vibrations – Album Review

Dropping just in time to cool down the sweltering midsummer months, California’s latest EP Good Vibrations is like taking a sweet dip in the Pacific, floating atop crystalline waves and watching the LSD melt your universe into wild, kaleidoscopic colour.

With retroism firmly back in fashion and 20th century sounds finally making their much-needed comeback, California bring a fresh slice of authenticity to the pop-rock scene. This band has been releasing records since 1973, and it’s safe to say that, while the ebb and flow of pop might’ve dared to carry them through distant realms over the years, California stay true to their heritage on Good Vibrations — packing the classic quirks of prog rock and pop into three instantly nostalgic tracks.

The record kicks off with title track, Good Vibrations, a whirlwind of a song featuring a a hallucinatory chorus, vibrantly tapestried with the psychedelic sounds of the 60s and 70s, and crowned by a fantastic, old-school surf rock vibe.

Track two, “Come Fly To Fall In Love” could have easily topped the pop charts back in the day. But these days, the track reveals an unexpected, new importance. It’s like a breath of fresh air cleansing the over-produced pop world, showing young listeners how far music has fallen from pure-hearted artistry into demoralised attention-snatching gimmicks. With high-summer vibes comparable to late-stage Beatles, The Byrds or Jeff Lynne’s ELO, this instantly catchy track plants a flower garden in the soul, radiating cheerful, uplifting light that keeps one feeling forever young at heart.

Ready to dance in a hula skirt with an ice-cold, pink-umbrellaed cocktail splashing your tan? Closing track “Island” swims deep into the grooves of the tropics, twining faint hints of feel-good reggae into its fresh acoustic jam. Ghosts of steel drums lace warm metallic melodies through the track’s mango-tree ambience, ukulele-style acoustic guitars pairing the sun-glistening ingredients of Caribbean music with the calm and bright-hearted sounds of the Hawaiian islands.

California gained their name back in ‘73 after fans picked up on their “California sound” – the band capturing unforgettable West Coast atmospheres in the thick of pop’s golden era. Fast forward 52 years, and California’s sound has become the ultimate throwback, drawing listeners back into the long-lost joy and hope of youth in an era where all seemed achievable. No climate change fears of floods, forest fires, unlivable heat or looming sun-borne extinction to speak of — simply pure, light-loving summery fun. If only we could go back…

But fear not: this California record opens a portal for us to time-hop straight back to that bright and wishful era.

California is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist, producer, pioneer and songwriter Les Fradkin — the band’s original founding member and European chart-topper, ironically born not in California, but all the way over on the East Coast, in New York City. Loretta Pieper joins Les as co-producer and vocalist, putting a creative spin on backing vocals and super-charging the band’s high vibes.

As the 21st album to glitz California’s half-century spanning discography, Good Vibrations feels as fresh as ever. It’s music which streams straight from the hearts of its songwriters, unfazed by fads and unfiltered by the excesses of modern production. It’s the addictive, pure-bred summer mood we’re all craving. Our verdict: Recommended.

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BELOW: Listen to California and check them out on major streaming platforms including Amazon Music, Bandcamp and Spotify. Please support California by visiting their website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music