He's not what we'd call a classic artist, and "his old stuff" isn't that old at all, but Devendra Banhart is an artist worth taking a look at if you're a music lover with an open mind. The Venezuelan American singer-songwriter and accomplised visual artist released his debut album in 2002 and has since released nine albums (as well as several collaborations) that have surprised each time. His latest effort, Ape in Pink Marble released on Nonesuch, has been described as "strolling along a seaside path..." and "one of Banhart's most satisfying" (All Music).

Critics find his style impossible to pin down - describing his music as everything from "trippie hippie" to "avant-folk" to "free associative works" - and that's because his songwriting style is a fluid beast, informed from a broad and diverse range of sources, and not dictated by any set formula. Comparisons have even been drawn to the early '70s band Tyrannosaurus Rex (an early version of Marc Bolan's T. Rex), but that's another story and Banhart swears he hadn't heard of the band before the comparison was made. Anyway, the point is, his taste is eclectic and is well illustrated in this recent feature from The Quietus in which Devendra lists his 13 all-time favourite albums.

From Mississippi John Hurt to The Blue Nile to classical composer Ravel, Banhart's choices are fascinating, and so are his explanations. If you're looking for something new, perhaps out of your usual listening comfort zone, we recommend you try a few of his picks.

Go to Devendra Banhart's Favourite Albums

via The Quietus