New Phosphorescent: "The Mermaid Parade"

[mp3] Phosphorescent: "The Mermaid Parade"

We've already written of our excitement for Phosphorescent's new album Here's To Taking It Easy (May 11, Dead Oceans). This new song, "The Mermaid Parade," is a heartbreaking country waltz about the end of a marriage, and while both parties have moved on, Matthew Houck is reduced to this simple line "I found a new friend too and yeah she's pretty and small, but goddamn it Amanda, goddamn it all."

While we haven't spent enough time with the full album to make detailed comments, our general impression is that Houck manages to successfully channel the sun-drenched, late 70s, California country-rock sound, while at times, staying true to the sound of his break-out record Pride; he reminds us all that there were artists out there layering gorgeous falsettos harmonies before some dude we call "Bon" came around. Tour dates after the jump, including May 13 at The Mercury Lounge. Pre-order the album HERE and get the mp3 record instantly.

TOUR DATES
05/10/10 New York, NY- Other Music (free in-store performance)
05/11/10 Brooklyn, NY- Union Pool
05/12/10 Philadelphia, PA- The Blockley
05/13/10 New York, NY- Mercury Lounge

05/17/10 Leuven, Belgium - STUK
05/19/10 Gent, Belgium - Vooruit
05/20/10 Antwerpen, Belgium - Trix
05/22/10 Ottersum, Netherlands - Roepaen
05/23/10 Den Haag, Netherlands - Paard
05/24/10 Zwolle, Netherlands - Eureka
05/25/10 Berlin, Germany - NBI
05/27/10 Nürnberg, Germany - K4
05/28/10 Vienna, Austria - Fluc
05/29/10 Freiburg, Germany - E-werk
06/01/10 Paris, France - L’Espace B
06/02/10 London, UK - ICA
06/03/10 Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
06/04/10 Glasgow, UK - Captain's Rest
06/05/10 Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds
06/06/10 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
09/10/10 Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival
09/11/10 Isle of Wight, UK - Bestival

After the jump.

Is It Matthew Houck's Time?

[mp3] Phosphorescent: "It's Hard to be Humble (When You're From Alabama)

There are often signifiers that come along with great records. Sometimes it's the current market climate, the artist's career to date, collaborations, producers, a certain "phase" that an artist is going through. Right now, everything seems to be pointing in the direction that Phosphorescent's new album Here's To Taking It Easy (May 11, Dead Oceans), is going to be Matthew Houck's full-on arrival as one of the elite artists on the indie rock scene; to be mentioned in the same breath as an Andrew Bird, M.Ward or Justin Vernon. Of course, that's the way it seems.

After his surprising, and surprisingly great Willie Nelson covers record To Willie, Here's To Taking It Easy represents the first full album of new Phosphorescent material since the haunting and ethereal Pride. The press release references albums such as Street Legal and On The Beach to describe the new Houck material. Material that finds Houck supported by musicians galvanized by the music coming out of LA during the fruitful years surrounding 1975, when East Coast folk-rock icons like The Band, Joni Mitchell, Clapton and the aforementioned Dylan and Young abandoned the freezing climes of New York, for the sun and drugs of California.

If Here's To Taking it Easy comes close to the magic captured on those classic records from the 70s then this album could truly be Houck's grand coming out party. Yet, even if the album doesn't contain a "New Pony" or "Revolution Blues," it's sure to satisfy, as Houck is a true songwriter and artist. He has that great album in him. It remains to be seen if this Here's To Taking It Easy is it, but we're hoping.