"Mala" continues the freak-folk tradition

He Dares You to Sit Still 
 
Few musicians possess the natural talent of Devendra Banhart, a popular Venezuelan-American singer-songwriter whom the music community has affectionately dubbed the "King of Freak Folk."

Banhart’s newest release, “Mala,” his first full-length album release since 2009’s “What Will We Be,” puts listeners in a psychedelic trance while unexpected rhythms and poetic, limerick-style lyrics depict a mystical world that challenges the limits of our own imagination. Banhart bends and blends genres of Tropicalismo, African-American folk rhythms, and even sad, sappy folk rock from the early ’70s to craft a sound that builds on the work of musical giants from the past while remaining distinctly his own.  
 
“Mala”’s opening track, “Golden Girls,” includes the repeated phrase “Get on the dance floor,” which Banhart intimately croons. He makes it clear that this album, like Banhart’s prior releases, is the latest addition in an ongoing tribute to the magic and power of movement. Such power is not only reflected in his lyrics but also in his unexpected rhythmic shifts and smooth, upbeat transitions.
 
In “Mala,” Banhart continues his experiment in music production, recording the entire album on a Tascam recorder, a device that attracted Banhart due to its popularity in early hip-hop recordings. The result is a lo-fi sound that achieves high quality through instrumentation and vocals that tease the listener and offer a murky, mystical, even celestial, auditory experience.
 
During the past decade, from The Charles C. Leary to Cripple Crow, Banhart has consistently released genre-bending albums that blend folk and blues to create mystic rhythms and soothing vocals. 2013’s “Mala” is no exception. If you’re at all intrigued by the genre term freak folk and wish to find out what makes Banhart truly “freaky,” then give “Mala” a listen and discover for yourself. If you believe that music can be felt in the body as well as heard through the ears, then Devendra Banhart’s “Mala” is calling your name.

By Lauren Bridges