One of our favourite british artists, Bat For lashes has got a new promo single floating around at the moment titled Sleep Alone. It’s a beautiful track with Natasha Khan’s vocals amazing as always.

Bat For Lashes also made it into our The Top 10 Music Videos Of ‘09 Check out Sleep Alone below!

NL2T Rating: Song: 3.5/5

Video: 3.5/5

Yumuşak versiyonlar nedir? Müzik defterinin gelenekselleşmeye başlamış olan bu dosya konusu; orijinali bazen sert bazen değil, klasik parçaların kadın vokallerle yumuşamış versiyonlarını toparlıyor. Yumuşak versiyonların birinci, ikinci ve üçüncü versiyonları için rakamların üstlerini tıklayın. Dördüncüsü için de aşağıya buyurun…

FLUNK – True Faith (New Order)

80’lerin en karakteristik parçalarından biri; New Order’dan True Faith. Orijinal havayı tamamen değiştiren cover’lar arasında başı çekmeye aday Flunk cover’ı ise parçayı önce 80’ler pistinden alıp çıkarıyor, sonra sakinleştiriyor. Hissedilir şekilde True Faith anavatanı Manchester’dan uzaklaşıp bir Kuzeyli oluyor. Norveçli kadının muhteşem sesinde ayrı bir güzelliğe bürünüyor.

BAT FOR LASHES – A Forest (The Cure)

The Cure’ın en depresif, gözlerimi kapayınca gerçekten de karanlık bir ormanın ortasında beni  yalnız başınıza bırakan bir parçası ‘A Forest’… Bat For Lashes ise karanlık bir ormanın içinden yanında tavşanlar ve bisikletiyle beliren korkusuz ve etkileyici bir kadın vokal (tıklayın, izleyin). Şahsen kinci albümü asla birincisi kadar tatmin etmese de Natasha Khan’ın ilk göz ağrılarından bu parça unutulmaz; karanlık bir ormana çok yakışmış…

CHROMATICS – I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen)

Bruce Springsteen parçalarından I’m On Fire, hatta ‘Ooo ooo ooo I’m On Fire’… Johnny Cash, Tori Amos tarafından da yorumlanan parçanın burada yer vereceğimiz güzel yumuşak versiyonu ise Chromatics’in sesinden olanı… Kate Bush cover’ları Running Up That Hill ile bilinen topluluğun I’m On Fire cover’ı da kendini ardarda dinlettiren parçalardan…

GOD HELP THE GIRL – Funny Little Frog (Belle and Sebastian)

Belle and Sebastian’ın 2006 yılında çıkardığı The Life Pursuit albümünden içimi açan parça Funny Little Frog’u, geçtiğimiz ayların oldukça konuşulan yazılan çizilen yükselişlerinden God Help The Girl yorumunda aslında çok da yabancı bir durum yok. Çünkü projenin sahibi zaten Belle and Sebastian’dan Stuart Murdoch. Bu versiyondaki vokal ise Catherine Ireton…

MASHA QRELLA – Talk To The Trees (Clint Eastwood)

Masha Qrella’nın Morr Music’ten geçtiğimiz aylarda çıkardığı albümü ‘Speak Low – Loewe and Weill In Exile’, Broadway klasiklerinin Masha yorumlarını içeriyor. Tamamı yumuşak versiyonlar olan albümün buraya uygun gördüğümüz parçası ise ‘Talk To The Trees’; Clint Eastwood’un Paint Your Wagon’da ormanın içinde seslendirdiği parça… Albümle ilgili detaylar için tıklayın..

NOUVELLE VAGUE – God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols)

Yumuşak versiyonlar yazılır da Nouvelle Vague konu edilmez mi… Geçtiğimiz aylarda çıkardıkları yeni albümde yine farklı yorumları yer alıyor. Burada adı geçen –başlığa niye onu seçtiğimi bilmiyorum- Sex Pistols klasiğinin yanı sıra albümde; All My Colours (Echo & the Bunnymen) –birinci favorim-, The American (Simple Minds) -ikinci favorim-, Master & Servant (Depeche Mode) –üçüncü favorim-, Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes) gibi cover’lar da var.

TAKEN BY TREES – Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns N’Roses)

Yine kadın vokal, yine Kuzey’den naif sesler… Taken by Trees’in Guns N’Roses klasiği Sweet Child Of Mine yorumu yumuşak versiyonlarda yer almazsa tabiri caizse ‘ayıp’ olurdu. Hem The Concretes’in, hem Taken by Trees’in kadını Victoria Bergsman aynı zamanda Young Folks’tan da hatırlayabileceğimiz bir vokal…

ANNA TERNHEIM – China Girl (David Bowie)

Asla David Bowie ve orijinali gibi olamaz tabii… Ama yine Kuzey’in yine naif seslerinden Anna Ternheim’ın China Girl yorumu fena değil. Pek yorum diyesim gelmiyor aslında, çünkü orijinaliyle gerçekten bağımsız sayılabilir. O yüzden bunu bir versiyonmuş gibi değil de bambaşka bir Anna Ternheim parçasıymış gibi dinleyince güzel oluyor…

CAT POWER – I Found A Reason (Velvet Underground)

Velvet Underground parçası I Found A Reason’ın sert bir parça olduğu zaten söylenemez. O yüzden yumuşak versiyonu demiyelim de, kadın vokal versiyonu diyelim ve cover kraliçelerinden Cat Power’dan dinleyelim: “Oh i do believe, in all the things you say, what comes is better than what came before…” Güzel, derin sesli kadın…

IMOGEN HEAP – Hallelujah

Bu da ninni kıvamında bir klasik zaten. Özellikle bir Jeff Buckley’den, bir Rufus Wainrightan dinleyince… Her birinde tadı ayrı güzel parçayı bir de boğuk sesli İngiliz kadın Imogen Heap’ten dinlemek lazım. Bu versiyon sanırım OC’nin 3. sezon finalinde duyulmuş…

It’s that time of year again when people forgo their usual sarcasms and recognize the good things in life. I know there is a lot to be sarcastic about these days and, if you watch entertainment news or The Soup, you know what I’m talking about. But there are many things to be thankful for such as good music. So, here are ten things that I’m thankful for (all music related of course): 

10. Drum Off 09: I’m thankful that there are corporations such as Guitar Center that still the value quality music, hosting events like this featuring the best drummers like Danny Carey from Tool and Brian Dailor from Mastodon.

9. Webcasts: I’m thankful for webcasts that bring festivals like Coachella and KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas to my computer every year when I can’t be there in person.

8. The Beastie Boys, Vandals, and The Aquabats: I’m thankful that there are really talented musicians who resist the urge to take themselves seriously.

7. Natasha Khan from Bat for Lashes: I’m thankful this rising star thinks the Karate Kid and Stevie Nicks are important cultural icons.

6. Insanely unique musicians: I’m thankful for musicians such as Maynard James Keenan, Tori Amos, Bjork and Mike Patton, who all take music to places no one ever imagined or expected.

5. NIN farewell tour: I’m thankful that I finally got to see NIN live before Trent Reznor retired it.

4. Deftones’ resilliance: I’m thankful that Chi Cheng is still holding on and maybe someday we’ll get to see him play again.

3. The Cure still rocks: I’m thankful this band is still touring and making great music. Without The Cure, Deftones and Muse would never sound the way they do.

2. Rage Against the Machine reunion: I’m thankful that I got to see this band reunite at Coachella in 2007 with 80,000 other RATM fans.

1. Bad Religion continues to comment on American society: I’m thankful Greg Graffin is saying all the things that need to be said and is also a UCLA professor, who is actually doing his part to help mold American youth into critically thinking members of society. 

And now a Band of the Week I am very thankful for…Placebo!

I’ve been listening to this band for a while now and I am surprised that they are not as big in the states as they are everywhere else. Since the first time that I heard their cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” I was hooked. I enthusiastically suggest anything from their 2006 album Meds, but you must hear “Lazarus” and “Drag.” They recently released a new album Battle for the Sun and I am loving “The Never-Ending Why.” I saw them live at Coachella and I highly recommend catching them live. However, this band will be on a World tour until March. Hopefully, these Brits will visit the states soon.

Until next time, protege moi. -K

Natasha Khan, the front woman for Bat for Lashes, really amazes me with her beautiful yet haunting voice. I just found this video of her song Daniel which they performed live on 98.3 The Current using some really nice vintage instruments. Really set the mood for me during my homework session at 4 AM.

Photographed by Kmeron

There is the song Horse And I recorded in HD on my YouTube

There will be soon a post about it on kmeron

And all my Concert Pictures can be seen on : musicfromthepit

– License

5 days of madness (or, a round of applause for your friend from Brighton) – pt. 3

(Editorial note: Sam has been sent to get some professional help. Thanks for your concerns – Your lovely editors, Misky & Quintana).

Day four: Bat for Lashes.

“My name is Pearl and I love you”

This is it.

No, not the Michael Jackson film, but the day I’ve been waiting for so long. It’s the Bat for Lashes gig at the Sheffield Octagon and I get ready, slightly trembling. Will it be good or not? Have I overhyped myself too much over this? After all, I’ve been gushing about ‘Two suns’ for so long, I think any speck of journalistic integrity I had in my body has been evaporised.

That previous statement is called “foretelling” in the lit world, kiddies.

I check my messages. My friend Pips tells me she’ll be a bit late. No worries, I’m late too, undecided of what to wear. I go for some grubby clothes and a bandanna. I have a white one and I could portray Daniel’s fat, non-unionised Mexican equivalent.

I pick a gaudy orange one and make my way, listening to some old school stuff .

After a few minutes of waiting, the doors open and we make our way as close as we can to the stage, with a previous stop for fuel (Southern Comfort with lime and coke, heavenly).

Opening act Yeasayer, which I’ve never heard before, are entertaining and probably require a few repeated viewings until a final judgement can be made. I enjoyed them and the little stuff I have since acquired is cracking stuff.

No, really, check them out. They are worth your time.

A quick head turning broke any misgivings I had about peoples’ tastes: the place was packed. People with strange painted faces made me think of Ms. Khan’s dirge like, sombre cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use somebody”.

Then the lights went off. The stage was lit in purple and blue hues and in comes Bat for Lashes. Weird, she wasn’t wearing any of her strange costumes or any interesting body paint, just a very modest (and cute) dress that made her look a bit like Alice in Wonderland.

Hey, where’s the white rabbit?

She seems to be very shy, but interacts with the people, no matter what certain reviewers say. ‘Glass’, from the album-of-the-year-fodder “Two suns” was the intro song, first with Natasha Khan by herself, then having the band segueing into a drum and bass rhythm that allegedly comes from working with Yeasayer during Khan’s time in New York.

It’s hard trying to put down in words what it is like to see this band live. The strange noises and quirky instruments, most notable a heavily pluckered autoharp and bells in a string (‘The Wizard’ – mesmerising!) that you get on the recordings rear their head live, creating an atmosphere akin to an incense laden mass in a gothic cathedral.

In a nutshell, the music was amazing.

I managed to get a few decent pictures and although there were quite a lot of songs and enough time was given to  each to completely feel the raw emotions, time seemed to fly by, never slowing down, never feeling sluggish. Heavenly.

‘Horse and I’ starts, with that crazy organ that always reminds me of a great Stabbing Westward song. I felt goosebumps with ‘Daniel’ and with ‘Siren song’, the latter one being the moment when “Two suns” struck a chord the first time  I heard it. I shed several tears, as the whole structure of the Octagon trembled with her voice saying “evil, evil” in that magnificent voice.

Fanboy > Critic. Apologies to my dear editors.

And then, she was gone. A TV was rolled into the stage and they came back. The encore started in a surreal way: ‘The big sleep’, a duet between Natasha and her yang-like evil twin, Pearl (via television!). ‘Prescilla’ is the last thing I remember from the gig, before wanting to pass out.

The end was near and just like that, the gig I’ve been pining for so long was over. Empty and solemn was the procession leaving the place. I thought about going over for a celebratory gin & tonic afterwards when Pips excused herself, she needed to take a call.

When I was deciding where to go and get intoxicated, Pips interrupted my train of thought:

“Hey, it was Misky, our editor”.

“Cool beans, what did she say?”

“Natasha Khan will be at Bungalows & Bears in about an hour. Do you wanna try a spot of  ‘meet and greet’?”

Did I say “interrupted”? I meant, derailed.

Pips couldn’t make it, but I did. I ran as fast as I could, but I got nixed by the bouncer. He said the place was too packed and there were several people waiting outside. I feared the worst. I spent half an hour, under the spittle that was passing as a drizzle.

Then the bouncer said to a group of 3 girls to get inside, then he looked at me and said: “go in and get yourself a drink, mate”.

Which I did. I hate waiting by myself in a pub, so what better way to pass time than having an interesting drink? I settled on a Charro negro (with extra lime) and texted the time away. Meaning that I was hanging by a pillar near the bar, texting people around and always looking at the door, checking who was getting in.

“I can do this” I said to myself. “I’ve met famous people I admire”. I had 3 questions to ask her, nothing too intrusive nor expansive. Hey, it’s the end of the tour so I don’t want to pester Ms. Khan with questions.

Different scenarios played in my head, but as time passed by, the one taking form was that this was only a rumour that Misky had heard on the grapevine. Fair enough, I had a drink, heard some cracking tunes and when this Rage against the Machine song finishes, I’ll be a goner.

And, lo and behold, I was biting a piece of lime when she entered the place. She talks with some girl who was in the pillar in front of mine. My knees go wobbly, I feel a rush of blood and heat towards my head (passing through my cheeks, making me blush) and I stumble my way as the coward I am, trying to put the glass back in the bar.

A moment of hesitation passes, I turn around and one fellow fanboy is already talking with her. I feel stupid and curse myself. Still, I coyly make my way towards the small group and ask her friend if she’s who I think she is. She could see I was making up that question as a way to break the ice and talk with Ms. Khan.

So it was my turn to speak to her. I presented myself, saying I was from Mexico and she smiled, saying that she was going to open for Coldplay in march in Mexico. I wish I had said “They should be opening for you”. Couldn’t say it.

The three questions? Couldn’t say them either. I was trembling, I felt my heart pound. I blushed and I realised I was becoming a blubbering fanboy and if I didn’t say anything, security would be all over me, working my face over and dropping my carcass in Rockingham Street, as a cautionary tale for all freshers to see.

Instead, I just tell her that the Mexican public might not react well to all her songs (?) and that she shouldn’t feel discouraged and just do a great show like she just did. I wished her the best of luck and produced out of my wallet a stamp of the Virgin of Guadalupe (??). She said it was very nice and I said it was for “luck in your future visit to Mexico” (???).

She said “thanks” and I realise that maybe I’m not the only nervous person here. Although she has the musical credibility and certainly the flair of a band’s frontwoman (frontperson?), she’s a very humble person. Retreat is in order.

Yes, I was a big Ramen soup of teenage awkwardness peppered with fanboyish-ness, so I asked for a quickie picture, which she obliged. We shook hands, again I said she was excellent and I moved away promptly, letting her enjoy the rest of her night.

I queued at the bar for what felt like ages and ordered a cider. I thought about the three questions. “Which song do you think sums up Two Suns?”. “Which of the live songs do you struggle the most, emotionally speaking?”. “Are you…”

Again, my train of thought derailed by something I saw at the other side of the bar. I quaffed the cider in one go and left Bungalows and Bears as fast as I could. The drink started to wreck havoc and I stopped for a sausage roll at Greggs. I was thirsty then. I went for a massive gin and tonic at The Harley. And then everything was a blur.

I remember stumbling up the Evil Alley by Marlborough Road, barely managing to crawl up the stairs and then turning up my computer and write this stuff, keep the memories fresh and as undistorted as I could.

What I do remember before drifting off into the arms of sleep is turning the laptop off and hearing a song blasting from another room. Good times for a change. See, the luck I’ve had can make a good man turn bad…

-S

Day 5:Best tracks live: Horse and I, What’s a girl to do? (“this one is for the ladies”), The Wizard, Siren song, Glass, Daniel, Sleep alone.

If this concert were a David Bowie song it would be: I’ve been waiting for Pearl

If this excuse of a review were a David Bowie song it would be: The man who run from the world.

Gallery:

Editor’s note: After receiving this, our lovely writer was supposed to cover Oxjam, another music event, but due to unfortunate circumstances, he never handed in this. We apologise in advance. Here’s some links for your enjoyment:

http://www.batforlashes.com/

https://twitter.com/bat_for_lashes

• Picture Above: Rainbow cake! Hooray! Via.
• The Worst Halloween Costumes for Cheap People. Or the best Halloween costumes for me people.
• Don’t worry about global warming anymore, everybody. This guy’s got it covered.
• 101 Best Music Videos of the Decade. I don’t agree! But Bat For Lashes made the top 3 and all things that involve Natasha Khan or praise of Natasha Khan will be posted on this blog.
• Watch: How Transformers Should Have Ended. Michael Bay is the worst, just to remind everyone. Via.
• Michael Bay>Jeff Dunham, as Jeff Dunham is truly the worst. Watching his homophobic, racist show is a training test to see how long I can keep from shooting honor suicide bullets into my head.

Wow. I was just browsing on Youtube and came across  “Bat for Lashes” video, What’s A Girl to Do? It reminds me of Donnie Darko riding bike in a cute girl version with that bunny-head guy! The video is pretty eerie, just  in time for Halloween costume in a few days.

Anyway..I always love Natasha Khan’s music and style. Her voice  sounds pretty evil (in a good way) especially in the songs like “Siren Song” and her cover of the Cure’s “A Forest”.

Bat for Lashes

My name is pearl
And I’ll love you the best way I know how
My blond curls slice through your heart
And the stars are exploding in the night
It won’t be long until you’ll be mine…
No it won’t be long until you leave…
It won’t be long until
It won’t be long to
‘Cause I’m evil ’cause I’m evil

- Siren Song

Happy Halloween!

the pitch-folk are currently airing a 48-minute documentary on the bat for lashes singer and the making of her spectral album, two suns. it’s very much chock full of live performances, personal confessions, waifishly adorable costumes, and the perennially precious natasha khan.

bat for lashes on myspace

download:

bat for lashes – pearl’s dream [skream's pour another glass of champers remix]

- sunbear

Dieses Review behandelt die CD “Two Suns” von Bat For Lashes.
Eine Beschreibung der Musik würde sich am besten mit “Experimentelle Musik” beschreiben lassen.
Mal fließen Stimme und Melodie wie ein ruhiges Waldbächlein und steigert sich, mal unmerklich und mal rasant, zu einem reißendem Strom um in einem Wasserfall zu Enden.

Die Musik wirkt dennoch nie überladen und das ist der Spagat den viele Bands nicht schaffen wenn sie viele Facetten bieten wollen.
Die Lieder reichen von einem ruhigen Lied für einen gemütlichen Sitzkreis der 68er-Eltern bis hin zu einem klangvollem tanzbarem Stück für Leute mit Anspruch.
Simple Dualsystemmusik (0-1-0-1-0-0-1…Gott was für ein beschissener Witz wenn man ihn schreibt und nicht erzählt) oder ähnliches braucht man nicht erwarten.
Hier gibt es nur anspruchsvolle Musik die gehört werden will, was nicht heißt das man sie nicht nebenbei “blubbern” lassen könnte, aber eigentlich ist sie viel zu schade dafür.

Ihre Stimme verzaubert vom ersten Lied an und verliert nie an Magie und ist die, in 12 Jahre alten Scotch eingelegte, Piemontkirsche auf dem riesengroßen Becher verschiedenster Eissorten.
Immer wieder entdackt man, wenn man dachte man hatte alle Sorten gekostet, plötzlich eine neue und verliebt sich.

Ich selbst mag nur wenig Musik mit weiblichem Gesang aber ich muss sagen das Natasha Khan eine Stimme hat die ihres Gleichen sucht.

Eine Zielgruppe für diese CD zu finden ist schwer, da quasi jeder ein potenzieller Liebhaber dieser Musik ist.

Sie bietet so viel das man reinhören muss um zu wissen ob es einem gefällt.

Eine Mischung aus Pop, Elektro und sanftem Frauengesang sind vielleicht nicht jedermanns Geschmack, aber man sollte der CD eine Chance geben, da man nicht weiß wann das nächste mal ein solch perfekt geschliffener und dennoch manchmal roh erscheinender Diamant in den CD-Regalen liegt.

Fazit: Kurz und knapp – 17.99€ (Saturn) sind nicht zu viel für dieses Meisterwerk!

Foto: offizieller MySpace, Bild

Como habíamos informado anteriormente, Chris Martin y compañía regresarán a nuestro país para ofrecer tres conciertos como parte de su Viva La Vida Tour. La banda británica visitará México durante el primer trimestre del 2010:

• 6 marzo – Foro Sol / DF
• 9 marzo – Estadio Tres de Marzo / GDL
• 11 marzo – Estadio Universitario / MTY

La preventa Banamex se llevará a cabo a partir del día de hoy 15  y el 16 de octubre, la venta al público en general comenzará el 17 del mismo mes, siendo los precios los siguientes:

• DF – Foro Sol

General A: $1150
General B: $650
Verde A: $1350
Naranja A: $850
Verde B: $650
Naranja B: $500
Verde C: $400
Naranja C: $250

• GDL – Estadio 3 de Marzo

Elipse: $1450
Cancha:$620
Grada Oriente: $750
Grada Poniente: $750
Palcos: $950

Los precios de las localidades para el Estadio Universitario de Monterrey se revelarán próximamente.

Bat For Lashes, también conocida como Natasha Khan, quien ha ganado gran éxito con su álbum “Two Suns“, será la encargada de abrir las fechas de Coldplay en Latinoamérica.

Via:Warp

I’m very finicky about music, so Little Boots and La Roux came as a surprise to my ears – but I’m converted to electro music now. During this path of lumo-enlightenment I discovered Bat for Lashes. Where has she been all my life? She’s managed to draw characteristics from my favourite artists and merge them together to bring about a unique sound.

What exactly this new sound is, I not sure – but it’s something like if Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and Dido had a musical prodigy child together. But why group or classify something so unique and exquisite?

Two Suns, her second album, has just been re-issued as a special edition CD/DVD set, including all the tracks from the first release plus some live tracks, remixes as well as a documentary on the making of the album (included on the DVD).

By utilising a variety of sounds and beat programming, Natasha Khan, has delivered an album that tells a story through an aural journey. Standout tracks such as ‘Daniel’ and ‘Pearl’s Dream’ perfectly illustrates her talent for crafting intricate music and expressive lyrics. The album has a cohesive tone throughout, but each song has its own identity. Some tracks are purely driven by piano and others have a more fuller sound, but either way it makes a beautiful album that is perfect as a lazy Sunday afternoon soundtrack. Definitely one of my top 5 albums of the year.

Standing in the intimate venue of the Roundhouse in London, I found myself very unsure of what to expect from the performance I was waiting for. While I knew a lot of the music Bat For Lashes had released, I also knew that front woman, Natasha Khan, was somewhat eccentric in both dress-sense and musical style, so who knew what would go on during one of her gigs.

It turned out to be a fairly simple but very effective affair with great touches like fairy lights on the microphone stand, dramatic lighting, and a wind machine straight out of a shampoo advert! While setting different atmospheres compliments each song – lightning strikes for ‘Pearl’s Dream’ and eerie purple swirls for ‘What’s A Girl To Do?’ – the music, and particularly Natasha’s voice, are really all that’s needed. I suppose it wouldn’t really work teaming such a bohemian brand of what has been called ‘sci-fi folk’ and ‘cosmic indie rock’ with a ground-trembling sound system, confetti and the host of other delights big budget bands pour on their audiences.

There was a fairly even split between both albums ‘Fur and Gold’, released in 2006, and ‘Two Suns’, released in 2009, which shows it was not just about trying to boost sales of the new album, but playing songs that the long-standing fans know and love – always a good thing!

The best thing about the performance, apart from the flawless vocals that sounded so much better live than recorded, was the innate sense of fun both in the audience and the band itself. Natasha seemed completely down to earth, giving an embarrassed giggle at the audience’s excitement for her most well-known tracks like ‘Daniel’, but still being free enough to bound around the stage with a tambourine. She also delivered on the quirky dressing, wearing a skin-tight leotard and leggings crowned with an elaborate golden cape, pulling it off in a way that no mere mortal could. It’s no surprise that she has been likened to such idols as Bjork and Kate Bush.

All in all, it was a real gem of a performance, and I left with the feeling that seeing Bat For Lashes in such an intimate setting is soon going to be a very difficult feat. With a tour supporting Coldplay coming up, as well as two Mercury Prize nominations before she has even broken into the proper mainstream consciousness, it seems a popularity explosion is definitely on the cards. Let’s just hope that the band continues to just keep it about the music, as they do so well at the moment.

photograph by dan j smith

one of the best experiences of my life was seeing natasha khan preforming at colston hall, bristol! how can anyone be so talented? i stood mesmerized for the whole show, occasionally jumping up and down like a hyperactive child on christmas morning.

www.batforlashes.com

Los lobos han rodeado la ciudad. Han acabado con todo, hasta el puerto ha amanecido con cadáveres marinos entre los barcos, sin que nadie haya dicho nada. Seguimos con vida varios: un policía del distrito centro, cinco bomberos, algunos académicos de la lengua, tres botánicos, un japonés sin negocio y diez o doce parados. No nos explicamos como sobrevivimos a la masacre. Mientras los lobos devoraban a las familias nosotros no recordamos hacia dónde ni cómo conseguimos escapar, pero estamos contentos. La ciudad es ahora nuestra y podremos dominar hasta a los muertos, a quienes hemos decidido no enterrar, sino lanzar directamente al mar desde lanchas motoras o barcos de vela. Que el oleaje los lleve a otras costas o los peces se los coman. Todos sabemos que muertos hay por todos sitios. Nadie se extrañará.

Los supervivientes estamos felices. Aullamos a la luna y nos refugiamos en los bosques. Formamos una manada unida. Retornamos al origen.

Two suns - Bat for lashes

Mijn beste K. heeft me een zéér goed album aangeraden! Na zich verdiept te hebben in dit album voor een recensie voor het vak Nederlands, dacht ze, hmm dit moet ik doorgeven aan mijn beste T.!

En gelijk had ze. Het is werkelijk een goed album.

Ik had al veel over Two suns gelezen, recensies, weet u wel. Zo stond er bijvoorbeeld een op de Humosite;

hier.

En na dit toch wel interessante review én aanbeveling van K., dacht ik; laat ik het eens uitproberen!

Er stonden echt goede liedjes op! En eentje kende ik zowaar; Daniel blijkt een single te zijn die regelmatig op de radio komt. En terecht, trouwens.

Bovendien zingt die Natasha Khan op een speciale manier, die ik wel kan appreciëren.

Ook haar genre spreekt me wel aan. Het is erg speciaal, soms donker, soms frivool en ik hoor er Björk en MGMT in.

Helaas pindakaas zijn ongeveer de helft van al die liedjes wel hetzelfde. Neem er eentje en het klinkt geweldig, maar luister haar hele album na elkaar en dan ken je het ondertussen al wel.

Het album krijgt van mij een 6 op 10. Het klinkt leuk, er zit wat dansbaars in, er zit wat troostend in, enfin het is een melting pot van vanalles. Het is wel niet absoluut de genialiteit die ik wel bij Muse verwacht. ( Maar dat zal wel aan mij ligge, )

Er is trouwens één geweldig nummer op dat album dat je ongeveer 100 keer na elkaar kunt beluisteren zonder het beu te worden; The big sleep.

Het is een ietwat vreemd nummer dat Khan samen met Scott Walker zingt. Het klinkt echt fantastisch, en iedereen zou het op zijn minst eens gehoord moeten hebben.

PS,  Kijk eens naar de cover! Geweldig artwork, niet?

Chris Martin y compañía han confirmado su visita a nuestro país para ofrecer tres conciertos como parte de su Viva La Vida Tour. La banda británica visitará México durante el primer trimestre del próximo año:

• 6 marzo – Foro Sol / DF
• 9 marzo – Estadio Tres de Marzo / GDL
• 11 marzo – Estadio Universitario / MTY

La preventa Banamex se llevará a cabo los días 15 y 16 de octubre, la venta al público en general comenzará el 17 del mismo mes.

Bat For Lasehes, también conocida como Natasha Khan, quien ha ganado gran éxito con su álbum “Two Suns”, será la encargada de abrir las fechas de Coldplay en Latinoamérica.

Via:Warp

Pop’s gone eccentric as people have gotten used to “normal”, the artists who try to be cool over different and unique.  I like eccentricies.  They’re exciting.

There’s Lady Gaga

La Roux

Empire of the Sun

Florence and the Machine

Rihanna

Kanye

MGMT

Bat for Lashes

Who’s your favorite?

Kagehime

Pelo segundo ano, a cantora Natasha Khan é indicada ao Mercury Prize (não foi dessa vez que ela levou…). Abaixo, confira a apresentação da moça durante a premiação. A música é a linda Moon and Moon, que não sai do top 5 do meu iPod desde que foi lançada.

E por falar na cantora,  Natasha lançou esse mês uma edição especial do álbum Two Suns. Trata-se de um CD duplo, com DVD que inclui o documentário  ‘Two + Two’, de 48 minutos,  gravado em locações como o Joshua Tree desert, o Big Sur e as ruas de NY. O pacote inclui também um bonus de oito faixas.

Bonus Tracks:
1. Wilderness
2. Sleep Alone (909s In DarkTimes Mix)
3. Daniel (Lo Fi)
4. A Forest (The Cure)
5. Use Somebody (Kings Of Leon)
6. Good Love (Recorded live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 19 April 2009)
7. Daniel (Recorded live on Radiohead tour at Nimes, 14 June 2008)
8. Lonely (Recorded live at Koko, 29 October 2007)

Abaixo, um trecho do documentário:

Jestem wkręcona. Poruszona. Wzruszona. Oczarowana. Piszę, póki jeszcze dostrzegam cień obiektywizmu. Cień nie od słońca pochodzący, ale baśniowo księżycowy. Tak jak muzyka Bat For Lashes. Pewnie znowu przyjdzie mi się tłumaczyć z nadmiaru emocji, nieprzyzwoitej admiracji i nadmiernego zachwytu, ale trudno. Inaczej się nie da.

Myślałam, że wyrosłam już z bajek o rycerzu w lśniącej zbroi, ale oniryczna opowieść Natashy Khan mimowolnie zabrała moją duszę w fantazyjno–barokowe przestrzenie kosmicznej nieprzystawalności do tego, co tu i teraz. Nie wiem, co najpierw uwodzi: jej wyjątkowy głos czy dźwięki, których wykopaliska znajdować się muszą poza obszarem Ziemi. Nie mogę pozbyć się wrażenia, że Natasha Khan duchem i umysłem obcuje w tajemniczej grocie swojego mistycznego jestestwa. Jak magiczna musi to być przestrzeń! Na podstawie krążka „Two Suns” zgaduję, że pełna kreatywnej energii, skarbów wyobraźni, mgliście mroczna, niespokojna i ezoteryczna, napędzana kobiecą siłą, inteligencją i wrażliwością jednocześnie.

Klimat płyty przywodzi na myśl spektakl teatralny jak u Dresden Dolls utrzymany w  eterycznym nurcie twórczości Cocteau Twins z pogranicza snu i jawy, wprowadzający dynamiczną niezależność i irlandzki mistycyzm młodziutkiej Sinead O’Connor z okresu The Lion & The Cobra, a momentami też romantyczną ckliwość Kate Bush i temperament Tori Amos. Niemniej jednak, klimat to niepodrabialny, lekko psychodeliczny i absolutnie wyjątkowy, łączący folkową tradycję brytyjską z nowoczesną elektroniką, której wyrafinowanie porównywane jest czasem do wyczynów Thoma Yorke’a. Możliwe, że Natasha to jego żeńskie wcielenie. Wszystkie jej multi-instrumentalne eksperymenty wydają się przemyślane, starannie mamiące zmysły kuszącym zapachem oniryczności i subtelnie hipnotyzujące. Nie sposób nie otworzyć serca na dźwięk tego głosu. Moje nie opierało się nawet, gdy w  drgania wprowadziły je wyraźne disco beaty rodem z ATB zalatujące we wstępie do świetnego „Pearl’s Dream”.

Utwory na płycie są jak zdania wielokrotnie złożone, pełne literackich ozdobników, beletrystycznych epitetów. Dawno nie słuchałam albumu, w którym słowa tak pięknie zlewałyby się z muzyką. Warto docenić  tę pełną metafor poezję, by poczuć intensywniej towarzyszące jej dźwięki i uchwycić urokliwość całokształtu.

Nie jestem w stanie wskazać utworów–faworytów. Każdy indywidualnie zachwyca, jest osobnym przeżyciem muzycznym. Od początku w ucho rzuca się „Daniel”, a osobiście wzrusza „Travelling Woman”. „Two Planets” porusza dynamiką, podobnie jak inaugurujące album „Glass”. W „Peace Of Mind” słychać gospel, a „Siren Song” zaskakuje gradacją emocji. Płytę kończy „The Big Sleep” z udziałem Scotta Walkera.

Bat For Lashes. Natasha Khan. Piekielnie zdolna instrumentalistka z pakistańskimi korzeniami. Moja nowa muza. Dzięki, Chimeryku.

Bat For Lashes “Two Suns”

Autorka zapomniała jak się nazywa.

Bat for Lashes es el proyecto de Natasha Khan, una sensual y enigmática mujer de 29 años que mezcla sonidos del folk y del pop agregando bases electrónicas.

Hija de una madre británica y padre pakistaní, Natasha en su infancia viajaba por todo el mundo, debido a que su padre era un reconocido jugador de Squash, pero después del divorcio nunca más tuvo algún contacto con su familia paterna.

En el año 2006, el proyecto de Natasha sale a la luz como grupo, conformado por ella, Abi Fry, Caroline Weeks y Lizzy Carey; y junto con ello nace el primer disco: “Fur and Gold” (2006) en el cual lo mágico, lo misterioso y el feminismo lograban una unión inseparable y con latidos de Björk, PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, entre otras cantantes. Según Natasha “Fur and Gold” es la combinación de cosas que a simple vista parecen irreconciliables (representaciones simbólicas). Para ella el pelaje representa lo salvaje, el lado animal y oscuro; mientras que el oro es la feminidad, el misticismo y el glamour.

Ya en 2007, Natasha decide seguir sola con el proyecto, despidiendo a las tres integrantes formalmente, pero en Abril de este año sale a la luz su disco más reconocido hasta el momento: “Two Suns” (2009) un disco más pulcro que el anterior, sin perder esa mezcla de sensualidad, misterio y oscuridad que tanto le caracteriza. Two Suns es una infusión de pop más su toque de misterio agregándole sensualidad y la presencia de su alter ego: Pearl.
Con acordes simples pero a la vez que llegan directo al corazón, sin duda Bat for Lashes ha logrado ese pop tan diferente y a la vez tan espectacular.

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