Devendra Banhart
Wed 11 Nov 2009
Boy Wonder
Word broke this morning of the second Big Day Out announcement, and the one act announced that I am by far more excited about than any other is Devendra Banhart. The Venezuelan-born wonder-child has been at work for a long time now and it’s a pity he’s taken this long to reach us for a show, as his earlier work is definitely his most captivating. If you haven’t ever had the pleasure of listening to Devendra Banhart, I suggest you start with his first album, released in 2004, Rejoicing In The Hands. I will never forget early listens to it, his haunting, hallowed voice, finger-picked guitar that emulates each word of the lyrics, violins winding up melodies like a yo yo, each of his songs are silly, unique, sad and beautiful. While he later got into much more fun, frivolous territory with 2005 album Cripple Crow and Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Mountain in 2007, his most compelling, ripe and unique work is by far Rejoicing In The Hands. There is not a weak song on the album, and his warbly wobble of a voice is pure and unfettered by fame or disdain. The songs are certainly not all happy clappy, but there is a tender ache in his words and his delivery, and a realness in everything in it. He’s been called Freak Folk and a Gypsy, but that’s all semantics. You really just need to hear it to understand him. His latest album, What Will We Be, was released on October 27 by Warner/Reprise.
Devendra Banhart- This Is The Way: MP3
Devendra Banhart- Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artisan Mimicry: MP3
Posted by Sarah Gooding under California, Los Angeles, U.S.A, Venezuela
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