Bat For Lashes
Fur And Gold

THE REVIEW

The cold, frosty night wind brought me the voice of Natasha Khan, singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist of the all-female group Bat For Lashes, hailing from Brighton (England); last year, they released their debut "Fur and Gold" (here in Italy it was only published this year).

Her warm, enveloping voice warmed me from the stormy night, comforted me, and finally healed me. "Seal Jubilee" one of the most intense ballads I have ever heard, soft but not suffocating, sweet but not sugary, sad but not defeated, took me back to "You've Been Flirting Again," the unforgettable sixth track of "Post," a Bjorkian masterpiece.

The magic, made of witchcraft and enchanting spells of "What's A Girl To Do" envelops; entertains and captivates. The unease of "Trophy" frightens, and Natasha's voice has that mischievous and rebellious air of Fiona in "Tidal," the applause; that male voice in the background, the mystery, the fear, and finally the melody's opening towards a more Bjorkian sound, comparing "Trophy" to "Venus As A Boy", wonderful. "Sarah" is a bit sixties, fun, joyful, sung a bit in falsetto. "Horse and I": harpsichord, violins, choirs; it is touching, emotional, energetic, and restless; Bjork singing with Tori, and Joanna Newsom playing her wonderful music in the background; everything blends in a perfect mix. "Tahiti" has that medieval sound that makes it one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever heard: precious, it almost seems like a wonderful band on horseback enters your room, followed by a princess at the piano singing, wrapped in a wonderful aura of perfection, shining in her drapes and her diversity. "Prescilla" if listened to just after "Tahiti", seems like the perfect continuation, more modern and festive, in a wonderful encounter between joy and darkness, due to that vocal tone, so deep and breathy, that distinguishes Our Natasha.

There’s no doubt about it: you can't give anything less than a 5 to a debut, I repeat, a DEBUT like this! Bat For Lashes give me a sense of happiness; you know that happiness that comes after much pain, that serenity, that victory over depression. That's Natasha's voice, her cadence, her aspirating the ends, her dragging the melody towards long and endless stops, pauses.

I am very hopeful for Natasha and her Bat For Lashes; yes, it must be said, the group owes much to various Bjork, Tori, Joanna, Kate(Bush) and all those names, and it must be said that for an avid listener of the aforementioned singers like myself, there is sometimes an excessive use of certain sounds, or colors in the singing, or in the melody; but Natasha also seems many times to offer something different, even almost more ancient, wild.

PS: I know there was already an excellent review on this album, but I felt compelled to write one too, sorry!

Bye.