California™ (feat. Les Fradkin) returns with their latest full-length release: “Postcard from London.” Utilizing 60s/70s pop textures across covers of 9 pop classics and 13 originals, this album arrives as a warm, nostalgia-tinged record that functions both as a tribute and as a modern indie-pop release.
While this nostalgia-suffused collection acts as a great showcase for Les Fradkin’s strengths as a multi-instrumentalist/producer, it does so without ever compromising on California™’s retro-pop aesthetic. With 22 tracks the album reads like a mixtape of sunny jangle-pop, melodic singer-songwriter pieces, and affectionate covers.
The album opens with “Fellow Travelers,” a harmony driven single set to a brisk percussion that you can’t get out of your head. The synths, guitars, and soaring vocals add energy to the track, making it the perfect album opener.
https://californiatm-featlesfradkin.bandcamp.com/album/postcard-from-london
Postcard From London also features a few covers of classics that the Fradkins had also released as singles. Notable examples include Les and Loretta’s covers of “The Mighty Quinn,” “Brown-eyed Girl” and “Good Vibrations.” In each of these cases, the spirit of the song is retained, paying respect to the original artists while Les adds his own twists to the melody and arrangement.
It might be a bit early for the festive season, but the album includes a couple of holiday specials as well with “Christmas Vacation” and “A Christmas Gone Too Soon.” What stands out about these tracks is that they don’t lean too heavily into the Christmas song archetype, and preserve that classic pop sound while integrating elements like church bells to generate that Christmas vibe.
The production on this album is characteristic of California™ and maintains a consistent tonal palette across the record. You get vintage keyboard colors, clean but warm guitar tones, and an overall mix that emphasizes melody and vocal clarity. Even though the Mellotron is Les’ specialty, it never crowds the mix, and instead blends perfectly into layered arrangements.
Postcard From London is a warm, affectionate album for lovers of melodic, retro-tinged pop. Its strength is its ability to balance familiar covers with well-crafted originals that sustain the record’s emotional throughline. Fans of Les Fradkin’s long career and listeners who enjoy tidy, melody-forward production with vintage textures will find a lot to like.