Posted October 29, 2009 by Matt at 5:09 pm ·
Filed under Lost Classics
Phosphorescent is an overlooked artist to begin with. Being on the very new and exciting Dead Oceans label did help that fact a little bit, and he got some decent press for 2007’s Pride. But this album, 2005’s Aw Come Aw Wry is certainly a disregarded nugget which brings this music lover much joy.
Cut from the same cloth as country tinged folk artists as Bonnie “Prince” Billy or Damien Jurado, Matthew Houck (the man behind the magic) also incorporates recurring themes and some orchestration (horns, piano, accordion, and slide guitar) into his music. The result is a soothing yet provocative blend of beauty and balladry.
Organic, authentic, haunting, heartfelt and fun, this album is really something to behold. Whilst maybe not as immaculately produced as Pride (which I also suggest checking out), Aw Come Aw Wry really has something going on that just keeps on bringing me back. It may or may not have something to do with the repeated utterance of the albums title on three of the album’s tracks.
If you already enjoy the stylings of the one they call Phosphorescent, and are looking for something else juicy to chew on, why not try Grinding Tapes’ very own The Points North, who’s new album I Saw Across the Sound came out earlier this month. Similarly tuneful, haunting and beautiful, these lovely folks from Boston’s Jamaica Plain are certainly going to be considered classic, but will not be lost if you simply take a minute to listen.
I just got my tickets, and I must say I’m psyched about the upcoming Bonnie Prince Billy show at The Wilbur Theatre on May 17th.
Bonnie’s been a regular on the home speakers and has actually graduated to the number one spot on my audioscrobbler (Last.fm) list–a pretty incredible feat considering I’ve only been listening to the guy faithfully for about a year.
But, in case you were wondering, or in case you have had a negative impression of the guy in the past, he is that good–and definitely worth a second trial. His style is country-influenced folk and his lyrics are hushed and emotionally provocative. He has been putting out albums since the nineties under various names including “Palace”, ”Palace Music”, “The Palace Brothers” , “Superwolf” and his own name “Will Oldham”. It seems he has finally settled on the Billy moniker as that has been the name listed on at least his last four major releases. His new album “Beware” will be out this week (March 17) on Drag City records, which is a label I like. Anyone interested in folk music not unlike that of artists here on Grinding Tapes should definitely take note.
Here is the amazingly simple and yet impressive video for the great new “Beware” tune “I Am Goodbye”, not nearly as dark and foreboding as either title implies. A must see video which both visually and sonically finds itself comfortably in the Grinding Tapes ethos:
And here is a taste of Bonnie doing “World’s Greatest” a eponymous joint by the one and only R. Kelly:
