Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands

Devendra Banhart – Rejoicing In The Hands

A defining release in the early-2000s freak folk movement, Rejoicing In The Hands showcases the whimsical, intimate, and deeply poetic songwriting of Venezuelan-American artist Devendra Banhart.

Released in 2004, the album blends lo-fi acoustic folk, surreal lyricism, and delicate vocal performances into a uniquely personal and often dreamlike listening experience. Recorded with a minimal, organic approach, the songs feel immediate and unpolished in a way that enhances their emotional sincerity and playful experimentation.

Tracks like “This Is The Way” and “It’s A Sight To Behold” introduce Banhart’s gentle acoustic style and distinctive vocal phrasing, while “The Body Breaks” and “Dogs They Make Up The Dark” highlight the album’s more fragmented, poetic side. Short interludes such as “Poughkeepsie” and “Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry” add to the record’s collage-like structure, reinforcing its impressionistic flow.

Elsewhere, songs like “This Beard Is For Siobhán” and “Insect Eyes” balance warmth, humour, and melancholy, while “Autumn’s Child” closes the album with a soft, reflective tone that lingers beyond its brief runtime.

A cornerstone of the freak folk revival, Rejoicing In The Hands remains one of Devendra Banhart’s most influential and distinctive works - a fragile, imaginative world built from acoustic simplicity and surreal storytelling.

Tracklist:

1. This Is The Way
2. It's A Sight To Behold
3. The Body Breaks
4. Poughkeepsie
5. Dogs They Make Up The Dark
6. Will Is My Friend
7. This Beard Is For Siobhán
8. See Saw
9. Tit Smoking In The Temple Of Artesan Mimicry
10. Rejoicing In The Hands
11. Fall
12. Todo Los Dolores
13. When The Sun Shone On Vetiver
14. There Was Sun
15. Insect Eyes
16. Autumn's Child