Phosphorescent, the brain-child of Matthew Houck, has one of the frontrunners for album of the year with its Muchacho. We’ve been partial to the band since we first heard their seminal song Cocaine Lights, and it’s rewarding to see the “band” fulfilling that promise.  Muchacho is manned with well-wrought songs embellished with much instrumentation.  But, as usual, the heart of these matters lies in the basic songlines and the delivery of the singer.  Watch below as Houck performs three songs from Muchacho in the raw (including Song of the Year candidate Song For Zula) for Line of Best Fit and French mag Le Cargo.  The lyrics alone can take your short breath away.  Matched with Houck’s world-weary delivery, these songs can truly rend.

You say, “Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold”
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know.

Watch Houck perform Down To Go for Le Cargo HERE.