Devendra Banhart - Black Babies
by Geraint Jones
published: 28 / 10 / 2003
Label:
Young God Records
Format: CD
intro
"Enchanting" second album from much acclaimed half-Venezulelan, half-Texan musician, Devendra Banhart, whose back-to-basics 4 track recording techniques add to its charm
This the second release this year by half-Venezuelan, half-Texan, Devendra Banhart and follows his full-length debut ‘Oh Me Oh My…’, which I have to admit to not having heard, but on this evidence I’ll be making sure I check it out soon. Banhart is unquestionably an eccentric and unusual character and frankly it’s a pity there aren’t more like him. His father has done time for drug dealing, his Hindu name was chosen by his parents guru and his middle name is Obi (yes, as in Obi Ben Kenobi) – you really couldn’t make this stuff up. What’s abundantly clear though is that the grown-up, albeit still only 22, Devendra Banhart is also unusually and uniquely talented. Recorded, like its predecessor in not so much lo-fi, as no-fi, on an assortment of borrowed, often broken 4-track cassette recorded – the constant tape hiss and occasional speed fluctuations clear evidence of this – in fact you half expect to see wow & flutter listed in the credits. ‘The Black Babies (UK)’ - named incidentally after one of several bands of whom Devendra is also a member – all 8 tracks and 23 minutes and 45 seconds of it make for an enchanting engagement, Banhart’s whimsical, mesmerising, yet fragile voice and songs making the kind of impression you don’t forget in a hurry. Apparently a properly recorded album (for which he has already demoed dozens of songs) is in the pipeline. Surely from here the only way is up.
Track Listing:-
1 Bluebird2 Surgery I Stole
3 Cosmos And Demos
4 Onward The Indian
5 Lagoon
6 The Charles c. Leary
7 Long Song
8 Old Thunderbird
Label Links:-
http://younggodrecords.com/https://www.youtube.com/user/YoungGodTube
interviews |
|
Interview (2005) |
|
| At a press conference in Regent's Park, folk star Devendra Banhart and his band chatted to journalists and music writers about thir new album 'Cripple Crow.' Mark Rowland reports back on a very unusual evening |
| Interview (2003) |
live reviews |
|
Academy 2, Manchester, 15/9/2006 |
|
| In the over hot atmosphere of Manchester's Academy 2, Helen Tipping enjoys watching off the wall folk artist Devendra Banhart play a relaxed and laid back set |
reviews |
|
Cripple Crow (2005) |
|
| Largely acoustic fifth album from distinctive, quirky Los Angeles based troubadour Devendra Banhart, which finds him moving away from home recordings and venturing for the first time into a proper recording studio |
| Rejoicing In The Hands (2004) |
| Oh Me Oh My... (2003) |
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