New Devendra Banhart - "Seahorse," "So Long Old Bean"

The lord of the freak folkies launched his official, name-bearing website Friday and while there are still a few "comings soon"'s (including the photo section and the Spanish-language version), once you click 'n' drag that colorful virtual pile of hippie refuse (acoustic guitar, dried flowers, masks, spirit catcher, some fatties, a tambourine) and enter the listening station, you'll unearth weekly Banhartian artwork, lyrics (handwritten and ornamented like illuminated manuscripts), and song streams in addition to the usual news, "for sale" signs, etc.

We like to make patchouli and hand drum jokes in Banhart's presence, but everyone's favorite ex-Lohan beau is being very generous in the Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon sneak-peek department. First came whiffs of “Rosa" and "Tonada Yanomaminista." Now we get "Seahorse," a slow-build psych epic that starts like a plaintive one-man ballad and cycles through California dreaming, echoing group singing, and woozy organs, as well as the gentler, Elvis-like "So Long Old Bean" (the strings at the end? They broke our hearts. Fingers crossed by Starbucks.)

In the midst of it all is a behind-the-scenes video sound tracked by "Seahorse."

DB’s site warns it’s "not a music video," that "music videos are coming soon." Sure, but this "informal" footage of the Hairy Fairies hanging out in Topanga, CA where Smoky was recorded, feels like a video: See Banhart pensively write, decide whose beard's grown most luxurious since Cripple Crow, discover what the crew tacks to the walls for inspiration, and dig how the boys ('n' girls) play hide 'n' seek, carve-out/suck-on fish eyes, and dance with guns while wearing unflattering shorts.

After it goes black, wait for a surprise involving some kind of quickie mop …

Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon is out 9/25 on XL. Tour dates, presented Euro-style, here:

10/08/2007 Oya Festival - Oslo, Norway
11/08/2007 Way Out West - Gothenburg, Sweden
13/08/2007 Knust - Hamburg, Germany
15/08/2007 Gebaude 9 - Cologne, Germany
17/08/2007 Pukkelpop - Hasselt, Belgium
19/08/2007 Green Man Festival - Brecon Beacons, Wales
21/08/2007 L'European - Paris, France
23/08/2007 The Arches - Glasgow, Scotland
24/08/2007 Leeds Festival, UK
26/08/2007 Reading Festival, UK
01/09/2007 Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, Canada
02/09/2007 Bumbershoot Festival (KEXP stage) - Seattle, WA
04/09/2007 Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
06/09/2007 Rio Theater - Santa Cruz, CA
07/09/2007 House of Fine Arts - San Francisco, CA
10/09/2007 Ogden Theater (Native American Benefit) - Denver, CO
12/09/2007 Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE
13/09/2007 Liberty Hall Theater - Lawrence, KS
15/09/2007 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
16/09/2007 Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI
18/09/2007 Portage Theater - Chicago, IL
19/09/2007 Majestic Theater - Detroit, MI
21/09/2007 Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, Canada
22/09/2007 Theatre National - Montreal, Canada
23/09/2007 Davis Center Grand Ballroom - Burlington
25/09/2007 Roxy Ballroom - Boston, MA
27/09/2007 Grand Ballroom - New York, NY
29/09/2007 Theater of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
01/10/2007 Sixth And I Historic Synagogue - Washington, DC
04/10/2007 City Hall - Nashville, TN
06/10/2007 Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
07/10/2007 La Zona Rosa - Austin, TX
09/10/2007 Sunshine Theater (Native American Benefit) - Albuquerque, NM
10/10/2007 Rialto Theater - Tucson, AZ
12/10/2007 Marquee Theater - Phoenix, AZ
13/10/2007 Orpheum - Los Angeles, CA

Posted at 10:18 AM in Tour Dates, Video
Tags: Devendra Banhart | Gael García Bernal

7 Comments

The video and Devendra are so sick. I really don't enjoy long tracks ( this one is like 8 minutes long) but this was cool and rewarded my listen with a short guitar solo in the ending (my favorites).
Actually wrote a review of this video a few days ago, if you enjoy it give me a holler http://www.zmemusic.com/folk/new-devendra-banhart-video-seahorse/

Posted by: Tibi Puiu at 08/06/07 12:24 PM | Reply
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I love that Gael Garcia Bernal comes over to play.

Great post. Thanks.

Posted by: Leo at 08/06/07 1:38 PM | Reply
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any notice the deepening of devendra's voice? is it just me, or is he trying to sound like noah georgeson? not a good thing....

Posted by: eric c. at 08/06/07 7:18 PM | Reply
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uuuuggghhh .... the Hairy Fairies??? Come on, why don't I just start smoking doobies and listening to Grand Funk with the high school janitors. far out dudes

Posted by: chris at 08/06/07 8:58 PM | Reply
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eric, does decendra drop the falsetto? if so I'm on board! I really like his songs where he's not throat singing.

Posted by: dannygutters at 08/07/07 10:12 AM | Reply
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Well, I, as one among many, think Noah's voice is very, very righteous! D and company have put out some awesome sounds on this new work--from production skills to the various talents instrumentally as well as the vocal harmonies.
The joint efforts here are by far the best to date.

Posted by: Lioness at 08/14/07 9:17 PM | Reply
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i think it's amazing how he and the band have evolved. it's a rare thing to see these days. they have opposable thumbs and everything

Posted by: will at 08/28/07 6:56 AM | Reply
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