Meadow Rock
Mountain Sounds, 2021
9/10
Though the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Bourdet is a Los Angeles resident, his song craft embraces the spirit of the mountainous portions of California, as evidenced by this throwback, organic and guitar driven debut.
“Songbird Revisited” starts the listen with Bourdet’s warm acoustic guitar and smooth vocals alongside Brian Filosa’s precise bass and Justin Smith’s skilled drumming that even welcomes a slide guitar solo, thanks to Jason Soda, and “Unwritten Story” follows with Bourdet handling organ, guitars and piano as Will Scott sits behind the drum kit of the flowing folk song.
Elsewhere, “Call You Friend” offers a duet with Mimi Michel, which finds a breezy place to reside amid timeless Americana, while “Seamist” places Vic Martin on Fender Rhodes piano as much beauty enters the cautious and comforting landscape.
Further still, “Morning Light” recruits strategic double bass from Rob Douglas in a poetic and precise execution, and “Mantra” exits the listen with the fullest selection, where a trio of vocalists help cultivate a vintage folk appeal as Bourdet plays guitar, Moog rogue and slide guitar.
Despite being his first album, Bourdet delivers like a seasoned vet, and the esteemed company he keeps makes Meadow Rock an immediately memorable listen that tips its hat to ‘70s folk music and the Laurel Canyon sound, and could and should soundtrack any adventure to the Yosemite Valley or the Sierras.
Travels well with: K.C. Jones- Queen Of The In Between; Mare Wakefield & Nomad- No Remedy