As far as contemporary blues goes, we seem to be in the midst of a golden age of hybrids.

-Garage rock had a rebirth with acts like The White Stripes and The Black Keys (and others, such as The Hives, who lack colorful adjectives). It is as much rooted in proto-punk forefathers The Stooges and The MC5 as in the Mississippi delta.

Lately, the latter of the aforementioned origins seems to influence, rather than imitate, other acts. This is not the case for Keb’ Mo’.

The 53-year-old Californian, who has seen his popularity grow with his age, conjures up the sounds of a blues era long forgotten. One almost feels guilty listening to the aptly titled “Keep It Simple” with the crystal-clear perfection of a CD. Instead, we should be submersed in a hot, southern afternoon, battling the snaps and pops of authentic vinyl pressings.

Originally named Kevin Moore, his sixth release stands to be the most commercially accessible — as Mo’ was featured in last year’s acclaimed documentary series “Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues.”

With a hint of soul and R&B, the dozen tracks on “Keep It Simple” evoke a feeling of optimism — a refreshing twist to a genre traditionally derived from soul-searching despair about lost loves and bad habits. In fact, each track sounds as if it is sung through Mo’s trademark ear-to-ear grin.

From the gospel sounds of “Amazing” to the surprisingly charming duets with Amy Grant and Shannon Curfman, “Keep It Simple” does just that — nothing more, nothing less.

Granted, Mo’ lacks the authenticity of Son House, T-Bone Walker or Robert Johnson and the legacy of BB King. But the era in which a musician lives is not a choice; the era a musician emulates is. In this case, Keb’ Mo’ chose wisely.