There’s no question that 2009 was a breakthrough year of sorts for Phosphorescent mastermind Matthew Houck, as his gorgeous Willie Nelson covers record, To Willie, opened up the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter to a much wider audience, not to mention a chance to share the stage with Willie himself, Neil Young, Wilco, and others at Farm Aid. Now Houck’s highly anticipated follow-up of original material, his first since 2007’s Pride, is in the can and ready for a May 11 release.
Pitchfork reports that basic tracks to the new LP, Here’s to Taking It Easy, were recorded at Williamsburg’s Headgear Studios, while additional overdubs and arrangements were subsequently added by Houck at the 6-piece band’s practice space.
Here’s the most exciting part for me, however: Here’s to Taking It Easy was mixed by Stuart Sikes, the man behind some of the best sounding mixes and recordings of the past 10 years (White Stripes’ While Blood Cells, Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose, Cat Power’s The Greatest, The Walkmen’s “Little House of Savages).
Stream/download album opener “It’s Hard to Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)” here.