Singer/songwriter Mathew Houck aka Phosphorescent released his 2013 indie folk masterpiece Muchacho to critical acclaim. That album outsold everything he’d recorded previously, reaching more people with sales and months of tours. Upon his return and after 10 years of living the lifestyle of a hard-touring musician, Houck left Brooklyn to start a family in Nashville. With all of the changes in Houck’s life, it makes total sense that he would make his next record about the ever-changing nature of life and its effects. In his case, within the span of five years Houck moved, welcomed two children into his family, nearly died from meningitis, built his own studio, and wrote and recorded C’est La Vie – a more uplifting album than previous efforts. Album highlights include: the hushed piano-driven number “C’est La Vie No. 2”; the gentle “There From Here”; the hazy and hopeful track “Around the Horn”; the tender love song for his son “My Beautiful Boy”; the Paul Simon Central Park era meets Jimmy Buffet tinged “New Birth in New England”; and the slow-burning spiritual reflection “These Rocks.” C’est La Vie finds Houck taking a new lease on life and letting go of hard times; it is an uplifting and hopeful record that should not be missed. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Hiss Golden Messenger, Jim James, Damien Jurado, Cass McCombs