Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

With our music industry in total disarray in modern times, good music is hard to come by and thank god Bat For Lashes (Solo artist Natasha Khan) has come back. 'Two Suns' is the follow up to her debut 'Fur And Gold' in 2007 and for the second time, Natasha Khan doesn't disappoint.

Natasha Khan has clearly delved into her inspirations well in this album, and demonstrates this in the opener 'Glass', where Khan has looked to native influences mainly from America. The drumming, is the main notation in this song, it's simple, but clearly effective as Khan, going back to those native American influences, brings out some lovely bellowing drum thumps that give it's listeners a feeling of being in native tribes in the empty deserts of America. Khan's vocals also doesn't falter either, still hitting the high notes, she also maturely knows how to keep the rhythm of her vocals in tune with the music, something she is a master at.

Natasha Khan also sent demonstrates why she's so good and this is pretty much all evaluated on 'Daniel'. Which includes everything, catchy chorus, amazing and haunting vocals and another thing that Bat For Lashes is a master at, fantastic lyrics. 'Daniel' paces itself out slowly to start with, a simple clashing drumbeat and then what sounds like a keyboard flash, in comes the bass line which pretty much sets the entire song apart from everything else on the album. After the chorus the song breaks up into a synthesizer jaunt, then Natasha re-introduces herself into the song again with lyrics like 'But in a goodbye bed, with my arms around your neck, into our love the tears crept, just catch in the eye of the storm' which are beautifully crafted lyrics and just another signal of Khan's genius.

We should know by now, that Natasha Khan doesn't hold back, if she wants to let herself loose she will and even if she lets herself sound like her influencers. 'Peace of Mind' highlights a particular similarity in vocal style to Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick. Remember 'Somebody To Love'?, well Khan's vocals are pretty much on the same tone as Slick's. Although, what sets the two songs apart is that Khan has created more of a native American Indian (again) feel to 'Peace of Mind' compared to the psychedelic hippie anthem 'Somebody to Love'. We're soon put into the piano ballad 'Siren Song', this is a typical Bat For Lashes song, it almost sounds like it could have been on 'Fur And Gold'. Still, Khan provides a change in the form of a ringing piano build up and a build up of intense singing, as Khan provides yet another epic masterpiece.

The second half of 'Two Suns' you could accuse of falling away, but this is definitely an album worth sticking around for, even for 'Pearl's Dream', which is beautiful track possibly influenced by MGMT with a slight electronic drumbeat in the vein of the New York duo. If there is one song Khan has put a lot of effort into, it would be 'Two Planets'. Dominated by hand-clapping throughout, it also again has that native American Indian drumming to it, but the song isn't structured entirely through those components, 'Two Planets' is focused on Khan's eerie vocals and charming lyrics. If there is any criticism to be made, it would be in the closer, 'The Big Sleep', it would be a delightful song without Scott Walker's vocals, they just contrast badly and makes it almost cringe-worthy to listen to and almost wastes Khan's efforts on the musical side of the song.

What can you say about 'Two Suns'? It's a masterpiece in it's own right, built around a lot of historical influences, it definitely shows that Khan's trip to New York has had a significant impact on her music and all for the best, it almost seems any direction Khan would take, it wouldn't be a wrong one, but I guess you can accuse Bat For Lashes for being quite melodramatic or even a bit of the same ol', same ol' sort of thing. One thing however, you cannot label Bat For Lashes as, and that's talent-less. Natasha Khan is probably Britain's most talented female vocalist around at the moment, and after 'Two Suns' she ain't going to give that up with out a fight.

4/5


Linus Broadbent.