Pitchfork

Nothing like finding an updated entry in front of the color-changing orb on Devendra Banhart's official website, especially when it brings tidings of a new album.

In late September, Banhart will begin recording his next record, the tentatively titled Smokey, though he warns readers that this name will most likely be given instead to a movie accompanying the album ("its [sic] a one or so hour collection of tours, the writing and recording of the album, and images that make up Devendras [sic] home and life, it will have sound but be mostly scored").

The album, his second for XL Recordings, will be recorded "mostly in California (half on the land and half on the sea, a boat is being rented to track on) and a little in Rio De Janeiro." The music is described as "half extremely mellow, breezy, one quarter melancholic drone bummer, and one quarter equatorial pop." Since "its [sic] been a rough year," "the album is about simple hopes."

Possible guests on the project include Vashti Bunyan, Linda Perhacs, Vetiver, Cibelle, Bat for Lashes, Moon and Moon, Bert Jansch, Hecuba, the Metallic Falcons' Matteah Baim, and more. Production will be handled by Banhart, Noah Georgeson, and possibly Arto Lindsay.

At the very least, Jansch should lend a hand, as he recruited Dev, Beth Orton, Otto Hauser (Espers, Vetiver), and Kevin Barker (Currituck Co.) to help on his upcoming Drag City release, The Black Swan.

As previously reported, on the agenda for Banhart at the moment is Los Angeles festival Hypnorituals and Mesmemusical Miracles Hanging in the Sky: 5 Nights of Soleros and Bandoleros at El Cid!!!!!!!. While he won't be performing, Banhart curated the event, which kicks off on July 28 and features sets from Jana Hunter, Entrance, Feathers, Nobody and the Mystic Chords of Memory, Subtitle, Michael Hurley, Sir Richard Bishop, and more.

Finally, Banhart is slated to play a series of festivals throughout summer and fall. Kicking off the trek is our very own Pitchfork Music Festival, which takes place in Chicago's Union Park on July 29 and 30 (Devendra will play Day 2). Tickets! Get your tickets!

Dates:

07-30 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival) *
08-12 Tokyo, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
08-13 Osaka, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
09-01 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic Festival
09-02 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
09-03 Aberdeen, Scotland - Lemon Tree
09-05 Newcastle, England - University
09-06 Leeds, England - Metro University
09-08 Manchester, England - Academy
09-09 Nottingham, England - Festival Hall
09-10 Isle of Wight, England - Bestival
10-27 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Museum of Modern Art

* with Os Mutantes, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, Mission of Burma, Aesop Rock & Mr. Lif, Liars, the National, Jens Lekman, Danielson, Tapes 'n Tapes, Diplo, Dominik Eulberg, Glenn Kotche, Ada, Tarantula A.D., Cage, CSS, Bonde Do Role, Jeff Parker / Nels Cline Quartet

Special bonus prize for everybody who's reading this far down! Devendra's website also recently posted the following bizarre entry:

"At Bonarroo [sic] Devendra was slipped a roofie causing him to pass out in a porta potty and be wheeled to his hotel, he apologizes to anyone he shouted ‘Orphan Legs' at, its all he recalls saying and also added to the shambolic mess that was the show. still, they had fun, at two pm, thanks to the good people and the wild hot ass sun!"

A roofie! Who would want to date rape Devendra Banhart?! At Bonnaroo, no less! You hippies are crazy.