- It’s been a long time between drinks (and albums) for Matthew Houck, better known under the sobriquet, Phosphorescent. During the five-year interval, Houck has started a family and significantly cut down on drinking if there’s anything to be ascertained from the line “I was drunk for a decade / I’m thinking about giving that stuff away” from These Rocks. Regardless, Phosphorescent have returned with C’est La Vie, their sixth LP of original music. Following a similar vain to 2013’s Muchacho, Ce’st La Vie is an alt-country affair with pop influences peppered incongruously throughout the album.
The album begins with a short instrumental theme that returns in the final track. After a lengthy period between releases, two instrumental tracks on a nine-track album is a bit disappointing, but the bookends frame the album nicely, particularly the latter which sounds like the perfect background music to watch a gazelle stride through the African Savanna. Following the opening instrumental, title track C’est La Vie begins with a minimalistic sound before Houck’s fragile country croon rears its head. It’s a simple song with simple lyrics and it’s simply brilliant. With an eye roll that almost manifests, Houck sings “C’est La Vie she says but I don’t know what that means / I say all right, C’est La Vie,” with a voice that simultaneously sounds listless and content. This carries on with the smooth sounds of New Birth in New England and There From Here, both of which sound like they would go perfectly with an icy drink on a sunny afternoon. The melancholic lyrics and vocals paired with the upbeat country-rock music is classic Phosphorescent and more present than ever on this album.
On fifth track, Around the Horn, the acumen of the band is on full display. An eight-minute epic jam, Around the Horn sounds like it was made to be played live. Although the production may have morphed and developed over the years, Phosphorescent play a quaint brand of alt-country that remains evocative. Penultimate track, These Rocks is as back to basics as they get on Ce’st La Vie and it is one of the most powerful songs on the album. When Houck tiredly sings, “These rocks, they are heavy / I’ve been carrying them around all my days / These rocks, they are heavy / I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way,” it’s the last line that is most comforting. Even though it sounds like his long career as a travelling musician has taken its toll, it’s reassuring to believe that he wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Jonathan Cloumassis.