Ninth studio album from Nashville based Phosphorescent. C'est La Vie comes five years after Phosphorescent's (nee Matthew Houck) last album, Muchacho. A lot has transpired in that time, from getting married and having children to moving from New York to Nashville and building his own studio. Written, recorded and produced by Houck in the garage the he converted into his Spirit Sounds studio, the album has an overwhelmingly uplifting vibe. While the subjects of songs like "My Beautiful Boy" and "Christmas Down Under" might confront life and death head on, there is a sense that everything will be OK in the end. It seems that Houck has let more of his personal life into his songwriting with plenty of reflection on his children and growing older. The music is rooted in what most would call Americana, but there is a wealth of studio know how in the mix. Vocoder pops up at least once, and a motorik rhythm drives the epic "Round The Horn." Nine tracks in all. Released by Dead Oceans on limited edition clear vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve with a digital download.

• clear vinyl pressing
• gatefold sleeve
• digital download included
• music label: Dead Oceans 2018

reviewed by Le Haim 10/2018