Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, came to my attention when Thom Yorke included her in his iTunes playlist around the time The Eraser was released. Curious, I picked up her debut album "Fur and Gold" and I was not impressed, initially. I just didn't 'get it'. To me, it sounded too ethereal, too distant to be deemed accessible. I just did not have time for it. Things changed when I first saw her perform at the Oxford Zodiac a few months later in 2007. I decided I would make time to see a live show, because why not?
It turns out that I made the right call in checking out her show. I think that is due in part to Khan's personality. She comes across as a manic pixie dream girl, with astounding range, both in her vocals and her musicianship. There is always a risk that the sound could be sacrificed to bombast, or pretentiousness, but Khan always managed to reign it in so that she was always friendly with the audience, never aloof. It helped me understand where she was coming from, musically. I basically fell in love with the music after an uneasy introduction and after my favourite band Radiohead, I have seen her more than any other band.
She is fond of spectacle, be it costumes that she and her band wear, or in the types of instruments she uses on stage. I would not begin to even try and describe what sort of kooky instruments she brings to the show, but they definitely make a contribution to the sound she wants to project. Musically, it ranges from the electronic with synths and artificial beats, to the tribal, with drums and wooden instruments. Her voice - my God, her voice - is captivating. It's the reason I keep coming back; she's like a mythological siren.
Venue-wise, she is not a stadium-filler like Arcade Fire. She tends to pick smaller places, like the O2 in Shepherds Bush or Oxford. Inoffensive venues, easily accessible and always good sound-wise. I have not seen her at festivals, so I have no idea how good she comes across playing in a tent.
I was also fascinated by the fact that she is half-Pakistani. As a British born Pakistani myself, I was really glad to see 'one of our own' being talented at something other than playing cricket. Khan does not identify herself as Pakistani from what I have read about her, but we all need to find some way in, when trying to relate, don't we? That's my excuse.
Bottom line, forget Florence and The Machine. If you want to see someone with actual talent and dedication to her art, check out Bat For Lashes. You're in for a treat.
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Charli XCX
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