C'est La Vie
General
| Jan 2019
Reviews
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2019-01-13
Reviewed 2019-01-13
INDIE ROCK / FOLKTRONIC
After a five-year break and a move from Brooklyn to Nashville, here is Matthew Houck’s (as Phosphorescent) follow up to his breakout album Muchacho, which got good airplay on KZSU. Houch brings strong singing to his clever songwriting and intricate multi-instrument arrangements. Songs are about love, loss, fatherhood, all that good songwriting stuff.
No FCC issues
1 Striking but very short prelude. Synth & non-verbal chants. Can be intro to #2. (1:17)
2 ** Mid-slow. Gorgeous & heartbreaking song about loss of love. Keys & vox. (3:25)
3 ** Mid-fast. Fun Paul Simon-like tune. Bouncy calypso rhythm guitar & synth. (5:00)
4 Slow. Gentle & melancholy. Vague: something has changed; it’s not clear what. (5:21)
5 Mid-tempo. Strong, churning rhythm; lots going on; but lyric lost in the mix. (8:11)
6 Slow, dreamy, Bon Iver-ish. Feelings of sadness on vacation. Electric guitar solo. (6:15)
7 * A pretty ballad for his baby boy. Layered guitars incl slide; elegant keys & perc. (5:46)
8 * Slow, sad, graceful. A lament about the burdens we carry through life. (4:26)
9 * Mid-tempo. Rich, immersive instrumental (with non-verbal voices). (6:22)
After a five-year break and a move from Brooklyn to Nashville, here is Matthew Houck’s (as Phosphorescent) follow up to his breakout album Muchacho, which got good airplay on KZSU. Houch brings strong singing to his clever songwriting and intricate multi-instrument arrangements. Songs are about love, loss, fatherhood, all that good songwriting stuff.
No FCC issues
1 Striking but very short prelude. Synth & non-verbal chants. Can be intro to #2. (1:17)
2 ** Mid-slow. Gorgeous & heartbreaking song about loss of love. Keys & vox. (3:25)
3 ** Mid-fast. Fun Paul Simon-like tune. Bouncy calypso rhythm guitar & synth. (5:00)
4 Slow. Gentle & melancholy. Vague: something has changed; it’s not clear what. (5:21)
5 Mid-tempo. Strong, churning rhythm; lots going on; but lyric lost in the mix. (8:11)
6 Slow, dreamy, Bon Iver-ish. Feelings of sadness on vacation. Electric guitar solo. (6:15)
7 * A pretty ballad for his baby boy. Layered guitars incl slide; elegant keys & perc. (5:46)
8 * Slow, sad, graceful. A lament about the burdens we carry through life. (4:26)
9 * Mid-tempo. Rich, immersive instrumental (with non-verbal voices). (6:22)
Recent airplay
C'est La Vie, No. 2
KZSU Time Traveler — Jul 18, 2025
Christmas Down Under
entropy — Jul 10, 2024
New Birth In New England
Traditions — May 28, 2024
C'es La Vie, No. 2
KZSU Time Traveler — Apr 19, 2024
New Birth In New England
KZSU Time Traveler — Jan 05, 2024
C'es La Vie, No. 2
KZSU Time Traveler — Mar 24, 2023
Charting
2019-01-22 — 2019-03-26
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Mar 24 | 3 |
| Mar 17 | 3 |
| Mar 10 | 3 |
| Mar 3 | 4 |
| Feb 24 | 2 |
| Feb 17 | 2 |
| Feb 10 | 3 |
| Feb 3 | 4 |
Track listing
| 1. | Black Moon / Silver Waves | ||
| 2. | C'est La Vie, No. 2 | ||
| 3. | New Birth In New England | ||
| 4. | There From Here | ||
| 5. | Around The Horn | ||
| 6. | Christmas Down Under | ||
| 7. | My Beautiful Boy | ||
| 8. | These Rocks | ||
| 9. | Black Waves / Silver Moon |