Pop cartographers

Despite the cartographical reference, “Terra Incognita,” by Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, isn’t a sprawling album.

The 12-track collection clocks in at just 44 minutes, with most of the tracks landing in the 3-4 minute, radio friendly sweet-spot. In those 44 minutes, however, Hertler and friends manage to cover a lot of musical territory.

There’s also nothing mysterious or terrifying about this band’s sound. Songwriter Joe Hertler charts a path through staples of American pop music, pulling from indie rock, Motown, R&B and modern folk. The album is unapologetically poppy, but well-crafted and funky enough to steer clear of triteness.

So maybe “Terra Incognita” is a little too ambitious a title for this album. Hertler and company stick pretty close to the well-worn paths of pop music. Having said that, it is still a well crafted album with an infectious energy.

“Terra Incognita” gives Hertler a chance to showcase his full range of vocal abilities. At times his delivery evokes former Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page, other times it sounds a bit like fun.’s Nate Ruess. Hertler mostly maintains a clear tone, but is able to summon a bit of Joe Cocker-esque grit when things really get going.

Other times, Hertler slips effortlessly into falsetto, like in the Motownstyled “Trying to Break Your Heart,” or the neo-disco-tinged “Future Talk.”

The Rainbow Seekers prove to be a flexible, versatile backing band, fearlessly following their leader into every recess of his musical excavations. The band traverses everything from the R&B-flavored “Feel” to the slow burning ballad “Betelgeuse” to the acoustic rock grooves of “King is Dead” with equal aplomb. In “Trying to Break Your Heart” — a minute-and-a-halflong a capella gem tucked in the middle of the album — the band does an admirable impression of a 1950s doowop group.

At times, however, the band feels a bit restrained. The brief guitar solo on “Feel” is cut short just as guitarist Ryan Hoger starts to pick up momentum. Similarly, in “Captain America,” the music seems to be ramping up to an epic saxophone solo, but instead the bottom drops out, leaving just Hertler’s voice accompanied by sustained strings and light percussion. While I generally appreciate the musical effect of sidestepping expectations, there are several points in the album where I found myself wishing the band would lean into a jam-band aesthetic and really cut loose.

The album has a fantastic closing track with one significant problem — it isn’t the last track on the album. The album’s penultimate track, the exuberant “River Runs Dry,” builds up to a Beatles-esque sing-along climax. (Maybe a little too Beatles-esque. You almost expect Sir Paul to jump in at any time with “Hey Ju-dy, Judy Judy Judy Ju-DAY!) The album´s actual final track, “Red Wings,” is a perfectly nice ballad that tapers off into nothing before a cymbal swell drives the tune into an unexpected climax. While the tune stands up well on its own, its unfortunate position after “River Runs Dry” leaves the tune feeling anti-climatic.

The production is clean without sounding sterile. Hertler’s vocals are always clear and present, and the seven-piece band is expertly balanced by engineer Kevin Pritchard. Electric guitar and saxophone lines float ethereally through the mix when texture is required, other times they slide to the front of the mix to unleash catchy instrumental hooks. Micah Bracken’s keyboard work thickens the sound without getting in the way, and drummer Rick Hale strikes a perfect balance — occupying the rare space between the overly simple drum parts so often heard on the radio and overly flashy drumming that detracts from the songs.

Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers performs 8 p.m.

Saturday at the Loft as part of the Capital City Film Festival.

“Terra Incognita”

Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers 2015, Bad Mascot Records