Phosphorescent –Here’s To Taking ItEasy

Tue 22nd Jun, 2010 in Music Reviews

If you’re a fan of the indie folk/alt. country genre and if some of your favourite artists are along the lines of Ryan Adams, Wilco and Band Of Horses, then this is an album for you.

Phosphorescent is the name of the New York-based recording and performing project of Matthew Houck. Here’s to Taking It Easy is the sixth official release for Phospherescent, who have been compared to such indie luminaries as Iron & Wine and Neil Young.

The opening track, It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama), straight up sounds a little out of place in comparison to the rest of the album. It begins like a Sufjan Stevens number, has quite a strong brass section, with an upbeat melody and tempo, almost a bit honky-tonk.

Luckily with their second offering Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishsly), Phosphoresecnt really come into their own. A gentle swinging number, with nothing abstract about it, just a solid chorus, lovely country-guitar filled bridge and handclaps in the background.

With sentiments like “The road is long and the road does wind, I’m bound to leave some parts behind, But don’t you pay that any mind, Cause you know, I’ll be here soon” We’ll Be Here Soon is an album highlight, topped only by Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough).

Tell Me Baby is just one of those really heartbreaking tracks that you could just pop on your headphones and lie down with it on repeat all day. The guitar solos are so easy, yet beautiful, with the chords just ringing out in the background of this song, making it seem so much fuller than it actually is.

Hej, Me I’m Light, track seven from Here’s To Taking It Easy, features layered, repetitive, ethereal vocals which really hit that emotional spot where you want to cry, the simple double bass and percussion lines in the background meld this track into something truly beautiful. It is of gospel-singalong proportions and it is just freakin’ magic to your ears.

Rounding out Phosphorescent’s nine track LP is Los Angeles, spacious and a perfectly blended mix of haunting vocals and ghost-like guitar, proving it to be a fantastic outro.

Here’s To Taking It Easy is everything this title promises. It’s such an easy listen, yet there is so much emotion, care and dedication behind the music.