'Cafe De Flore' album review in Pitch Perfect
Nick Evans Mowery
Cafe De Flore
self-released; 2025
By Dino DiMuro
Singer-songwriter-producer Nick Evans Mowery of Nashville has released so many songs and albums in such a quick time span (23 releases at last count) that he has started calling himself NEM just to save time! He’s a songwriting machine, a one-man Brill Building unto himself (as well he should be, since songwriting is basically his day job!) Mowery’s newest album is called Cafe De Flore.
I’ve reviewed Mowery twice, and his massive resume always trips me up! He began playing guitar at age 12 inspired by Steely Dan, Tower of Power, Bob Dylan, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. He’s a Berklee College of Music graduate, majored in music/guitar performance and business at Ohio State University, then ultimately made a living getting his music in TV shows and movies, including songs off this very album! His single “Hey Joe” topped the iTunes Blues Single Chart in February of 2023. His band plays countless clubs and opens for national touring acts.
“Cafe De Flore” is the title track, album name AND a hot spot in France where PIcasso could sometimes be found. Mowery says this song is about the ghost of Picasso haunting the streets of Paris. As such it’s a jumpy, tightly arranged jazz-pop romp with melodic bass and Mowery’s somewhat husky lead vocals. In a general sense it has a Dire Straits feel (“Sultans of Swing”) crossed with the density of a Steely Dan arrangement. The bass response through my home JBL’s is amazing!
“New Love Runaway” has a cool reversed opening (blink and you’ll miss it). This song is another modern pop hit with a delightfully diverse arrangement and a great chorus where Mowery’s backing vocal is sampled and echo’d against itself. A solid drum track matched with clean synth keyboards and acoustic guitar really sells this one. “Searching for Something More” stands out with Dylan-like guitar, organ and sweet vocal harmonies. I love the line “Please don’t pretend I’m right, I already know!”
“Habits” is a vocal and piano ballad that’s a little too close to the Eagles Hit “Desperado” (you can sing those lyrics right over this one!). My guess is that a TV show requested a Desperado soundalike track, and Nick pulled it off! “If You’re Into Me” gets us back to Mowery’s core, perhaps inspired by James Taylor. It’s a great concept for a love song and the chiming guitars driving the track couldn’t be better.
“Get Ya Rite” has a bank of synths and a locomotive island beat that takes us back to the golden years of the 80’s. This track fits into what I now understand to be “Yacht Rock” like Jimmy Buffett or later Beach Boys.
“Hold Your Hand” is a nicely syncopated acoustic ode to intense love delivered with heartfelt vocals, sweet acoustics and some of the nicest recorded drums I’ve heard in a while. “Keep Lovin’ You” is Mowery playing live at Tangent Boy Studio, slipping easily into the role of acoustic folk minstrel using only his voice and guitar. Closing the collection is “One More Dance” which is called ”a Belafonte-esque calypso classic.” It’s a big production number to close the curtains, making me feel like I’d been at a Broadway show without realizing it!
Mowery’s ability to write multiple songs per minute never compromises their quality, which is clear with this highly engaging collection. Check out this album today because there’s probably gonna be another one tomorrow!
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