Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be

Firstly, if you don't like your music laid back, stay well away from Devendra Banhart. He is nothing if not relaxed. But what else would you expect or even want from him?

The first I and many others heard of him was when his song 'Little Yellow Spider' was on that Orange Advert a few years ago. His voice was enchanting then, and it still is. It reverberates over the twanging guitar and jazzy bass lines. His beautiful folky melodies roll around your ears. Every song on this album has a different flavour, yet they still come together brilliantly. Incidentally, I'm glad he's let his Venezuelan roots shine through on a number of songs. Lyrics just sound great in Spanish, especially with this kind of music.

They way the various instruments work together is fantastic. Ideas that seem odd work brilliantly. A personal highlight for me is 'Chin Chin And Muck Muck'. It initially seems made for a film soundtrack. I just imagine a hotel bar, and a couple dancing. The brass calls out over a slow jazz backing, and the simple lyrics slide so smoothly over in his low voice. Then, it changes. It's back to hippie style. Improvised vocals and The percussion and guitar come back in and it feels like a fairytale. Then it switches between a slow jazz and then back to an upbeat party. The two contrast fantastically to create a special kind of magic that surprises you at every turn.

This is a great album if you love your music laid back, free, and folky. I'd recommend it to fans of bands like Fleet Foxes, Newton Faulkner and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.

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