Phosphorescent – Muchacho

Phosphorescent – Muchacho (Dead Oceans)

Like a little woodland creature seeking a warm place to hibernate for the winter, the contemplative Americana of Matthew Houck’s early work as Phosphorescent burrowed its way through the icy outer layers into a special place in my heart. 2009’s To Willie found Houck and his newly acquired backing band sounding uncharacteristically traditional and loose, while its raucous follow up, Here’s to Taking It Easy, had me worried that Houck had resigned himself to becoming a drunkenly insouciant lout. With twinkling, hymnal ‘Sun, Arise!’, Muchacho’s opening track, I’m instantly reassured, as that little creature emerges from his slumber, revealing himself over the course of the album to be grander sounding than ever, but no less capable of comforting or in need of a listener to comfort him.

by Carly Blair