"Song For Zula" feels like some sort of arrival for Matthew Houck, bka Phosphorescent. Eschewing the country elements of his previous records, Houck instead shifts toward a slower piece with a soft electronic touch. It's not far off from the better parts of U2's ballads, but it's not exactly the same either. Instead, Houck aims for late evening melancholy, letting the guitars whine over dubby drums and calm strings. It's a conventionally pretty track that could easily end up behind the closing credits of a romantic comedy, but for right now, it feels more intimate, like Houck is getting personal in the most sweeping way possible. Muchacho is out in March on Dead Oceans.
