Vast Ovoid

Released in 2020 as a companion piece to his 2019 full-length 'Ma', Vast Ovoid serves as a distillation of Devendra Banhart's modern sonic identity. Moving further away from the 'New Weird America' movement he once spearheaded, this EP showcases a lean, art-pop sensibility. The four tracks, including a remix by Helado Negro, highlight a shift toward 'Ma'-era themes of motherhood, interconnectedness, and quietude. The production is notably cleaner and more spacious than his lo-fi beginnings, utilizing subtle electronic textures to augment his signature fingerpicked guitar. Critically, it was viewed as a graceful coda to his previous work, proving that Banhart could maintain his surrealist lyrical edge while adopting a more traditional, almost crooner-like vocal delivery. It stands as a bridge between his folk roots and a more experimental, ambient-leaning future.