Muchacho

Muchacho

The Athens, Ga.–based singer/songwriter Matthew Houck—a.k.a. Phosphorescent—works an alt-country/indie-pop territory occupied by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Shearwater, and many other acts that get weirder the closer they come to turning pro. Muchacho plays out like a classic breakup album, with the singing laying claim to angst by shouting the lyrics into the night sky, where they bounce off the studio reverb caught in the stars. "Song for Zula" is the album's obvious high point: a hazy, lazy melody brought to life by a stuttering rhythm and a clunky bass line that provides the pulse. "Terror in the Canyons" evokes a mid-'70s country tune rewritten by Ryan Adams and performed like Adams being backed by My Morning Jacket. "Muchacho's Tune" turns in a loose, achy vocal worthy of Will Oldham. "Sun, Arise!" and "Sun's Arising" bracket the album with multitracked vocal weaves; they provide a spiritual vibe that's both rustic and modern.

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