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Devendra Banhart’s Dearest Friends: Secos e Molhados, Fool’s Gold, Matteah Baim

DEVANDRALOGOWith the release of major-label debut What Will We Be (Warner Bros.), Devendra Banhart proves once again he has the potential to be one of his generation’s major players. His voice, with its careening vibrato and fuse-blowing intensity, sounds something like Marc Bolan’s, but his repertoire may be more all over the map than anyone making records today. He combines a love of arcane folk music with hard-rocking psychedelia and an ability to sing beautifully in English or Spanish, a skill he learned growing up in Caracas, Venezuela. He refers to himself, jokingly, as a “fake hippie,” but he appears to be the real thing, a refreshing return to the revolutionary thinking that once seemed capable of changing the course of human events. Who’s to say it couldn’t happen again? Banhart will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.

FoolsGold2Secos e Molhados
A true miracle of freakyness, an anomaly of absolute sui generis power! Secos e Molhados was one of the few post-tropicalia bands from Brasil to be just as fresh as their resplendent predecessors. As far as I know, they only made two records; both are must-haves. Inimitable siren (and someone who, to me, epitomizes punk) Ney Matogrosso went on to make and keep on making a whole canon of cross-genre (and cross-dressing!) albums. We looove you, Ney! Video

Fool’s Gold
Fool’s Gold (pictured) is one of the best bands in L.A., hands down. Influences from Tinariwen, but done right and with totally original melodies and awesomely weird production; one of those bands that makes you dance while tears ascend.
“Surprise Hotel” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/Surprise_Hotel.mp3

Matteah Baim
Matteah Baim is one of my favorite songwriters, writers, painters, people—ever! And the only person I’ve ever seen pull off—it gives me chills just writin’ about it—doing a Doors cover. She finished her second record a while back and is now touring, workin’ on her third. Thank god for MB!
“Pagoda” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/Pagoda.mp3