Posted on: September 15, 2007 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Musicians often head to New York – it’s a familiar story. But something magical happened when Matthew Houck picked up stakes halfway through making his new Phosphorescent record, “Pride”, and moved to Brooklyn from Athens, Georgia. “Pride” is something different. While it’s not without the moments of sheer abandon that have made Phosphorescent’s work unmistakable-“At Death, A Proclamation” thunders into familiar territory-mostly gone are the messy marching bands and evangelical fervor. Here, Houck instead channels something more mystical and haunting, offering up a dark, meditative set of songs that is all the more spiritual-sounding for its restrained tone. On previous albums, he’s recruited guest musicians to fill the gaps, but on “Pride”, Houck has only enlisted the services of a makeshift choir, otherwise recording every instrument himself. His achingly cerebral delivery recalls Arthur Russell, but honestly, “Pride” sounds like nothing else we’ve ever heard. These are poems uttered in an empty field, punctuated by shouts and hollers, as if from a singer either abandoned or possessed. The lyrics are Houck’s strongest ever, wrapped in washed out choral etudes that could be channeled from a rural French chapel or a solemn African tribe in prayer. “Pride” sounds like it was made by a man set free. In fact, “Pride” sounds broken free of time and place altogether. Yet still it is warm, familiar, and welcoming-a record to call home.

“Pride” will be released on October 23rd via Dead Oceans.

“Although a few tracks like “Cocaine Lights” proceed in a more orderly verse/chorus fashion, elsewhere Houck shows a pronounced bent for the abstract and ethereal. He’s got that wild mercury sound working beautifully here on album opener “A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise”, with its spaciousness, delicate, intertwining strands of voice, and general sense of looseness and possibility. “I’ll be in the yard still taking pictures in the dark,” he sings, his tone sounding like he’s conversing with a ghost, and then the music cuts out and percussion drifts away slowly like chains clattering down the hall.” – Mark Richardson / Pitchfork

Tour Dates:
10/09/07 Grantham, PA – Larsen Student Union, Messiah College
10/10/07 Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
10/11/07 Scranton, PA – Test Pattern
10/12/07 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
10/13/07 Grand Rapids, MI – The DAAC
10/14/07 Chicago, IL – AV-aerie
10/15/07 Urbana, IL – Canoply Club – Void Room
10/18/07 Denver, CO – Hi Dive
10/19/07 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
10/24/07 San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern
10/26/07 Los Angeles, CA – El Cid
10/27/07 Phoenix, AZ – Casa Blanca
10/29/07 Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe
10/30/07 Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
11/04/07 Wilmington NC – Bella Festa
11/05/07 Washington DC – Black Cat
11/07/07 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Side Chapel
11/08/07 Allston, MA – Great Scott
11/09/07 New York, NY – Cake Shop
More Tour Dates TBA. For the latest tour update, check out the Dead Oceans website here:
http://deadoceans.com/shows.php

Links:
http://myspace.com/phosphorescent
http://www.saltandblues.com/ (fan site)
http://deadoceans.com/

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