Album review: Phosphorescent, Muchacho (Dead Oceans)

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Phosphorescent, Muchacho (Dead Oceans)

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Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck augments his usual reedy Americana stylings with some unexpected developments on Muchacho, most notably the undulating synthesiser arpeggios that bookend the album on “Sun, Arise!” and “Sun's Arising”: combined with his multitracked falsetto vocal harmonies, they sound like Fleet Foxes might if they were a krautrock band.

The electropop influence continues through “Song for Zula”, where Houck's weary, cracked vocal limps over keening synths and cycling strings, with pedal steel and violin soaring above.

Download: Song for Zula; A Charm/A Blade; Muchacho's Tune; The Quotidian Beasts

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Album review: Phosphorescent, Muchacho (Dead Oceans)

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