Phosphorescent

Brooklyn-by-way-of-Georgia artist Matthew Houck has been recording under the working name of Phosphorescent since 2003, experimenting within the wide-open boundaries of modern folk and garnering comparisons to artists from Will Oldham to Bob Dylan along the way. Beginning with last year’s Here’s To Taking It Easy, you can add The Band to that list of monolithic influences. It’s not a full-album homage like 2008’s Willie Nelson tribute To Willie, but save for brief detours into freak-folk and Crazy Horse-esque guitar workouts, Here’s To Taking It Easy puts a laid-back spin on alt-country that wouldn’t sound strange seeping out from the basement of Big Pink.

Updated 03/31/2011