Jonathan Wilson (No 1,056)

Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina.

The lineup: Jonathan Wilson (vocals, instruments).

The background: Older than most to appear in this column but still new as a solo artist, Jonathan Wilson has one hell of an impressive CV, if you're that way inclined. A former member of country-tinged rock bands Dawes and Muscadine, his forthcoming debut album (he recorded another in 2007, but it was never released) includes everyone from Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes to Gary Louris of the Jayhawks. He has performed with Jackson Browne and Robbie Robertson, produced and collaborated with Bonnie "Prince" Billy and co-produced and played on J Tillman of Fleet Foxes' solo album. And on his pet project, What You Need Is What You Have, The Songs of Roy Harper, he produced songs played by the likes of Will Oldham. Until recently he had a recording studio in Laurel Canyon, and he has been credited with revitalising that quintessential early-70s countercultural milieu with jam sessions at his compound featuring various members of the Jayhawks, Wilco, the Black Crowes, the Heartbreakers (the Tom Petty one, not the Johnny Thunders one), and Jakob Dylan.

In fact, Wilson is so steeped in roots music, the singer-songwriter ethos and that Laurel Canyon vibe, it has been suggested he is parodying that history and world on his album, Gentle Spirit. We don't think so: it's artful, but it strikes us as more of an affectionate tribute or homage than a sustained act of satirical deconstruction. It's got some lovely stuff on it, too. Gentle Spirit is about right. The title track and opener sets out his store with its sparse but tasteful arrangement of piano, guitar and oboe, Wilson's croakily breathy voice bringing to mind Colin Blunstone displaced to the west coast. Can We Really Party Today? is, as Tim Buckley would have it, happy/sad, with a slither of strings to maintain the basic/baroque balance. Desert Raven is like soft-rock, Bread-style, with shades of Baby I'm-A Want You, only put through a My Morning Jacket filter. It's heavy on the strings and strums, Wilson sounding bewildered by what he's seen – which, at 38, you imagine would be plenty. Canyon in the Rain, too, with its shimmers of cymbal, is like a post-rock take on early-70s MOR acoustica. On Natural Rhapsody, the second-longest track at eight minutes (the LP closer is 10 minutes long), things take a turn for the jazzy and Wilson sounds listless to the point of stoned stupefaction over sun-dappled guitar and organ. There is a sense throughout of a retreat into the rural, a pastoral idyll, away from the urban squall, though there are moments when Wilson's electric guitar makes Neil Young-ish intrusions. Whatever, it's well worth checking out. If you're that way inclined.

The buzz: "One of the best albums I've ever heard" – Tame Impala's Nick Allbrook.

The truth: Allbrook needs to get out more, but we can see how a certain type of music lover would love this.

Most likely to: Treat you right.

Least likely to: Make it with you.

What to buy: Gentle Spirit is released on 8 August by Bella Union.

File next to: Bread, My Morning Jacket, Neil Young, Wilco.

Links: songsofjonathanwilson.com.

Thursday's new band: Disclosure.