Been eight months since last we mentioned Brighton-based chanteuse Natasha Khan (aka Bat For Lashes), and it's not for lack of love; rather, we've allowed the dearth of States-side PR movement around Fur & Gold to let us plunge its dreamlike depths at our own, studious pace. It's a nice change. And a perfect record for it.
Live, Bat For Lashes is a four-woman band: Natasha behind a piano, strumming an autoharp, at stage front bedecked in classical Greek headdress and sparkly pleated skirt; the rest switching from guitar to hand percussion to violin, rounding out scene and surrealist vibe. No proper drumset, just a spread of kit components (floor tom here, another tom there), aided by sampler triggers, loops, bells. She's one of Thom's picks (singling out opening track "Horse And I"), and clearly he knows his shit. The audience rapt, Natasha belting like a Björk-infused Kate Bush for the young indie set -- Bat For Lashes is poised to be the heart-trodden siren for the new school (girls want to be her, guys want to be with her, etc). "Prescilla," the Amos-recalling "I Saw A Light" and "Sad Eyes" were special, though the floor-stomping/hand-clapping "Sarah" was the true shiver-inducing souvenir. Photogenic as she is, we've but one pic to share with you. Think it does the trick, no?
