Band:	Bat for Lashes
Album:	Two Suns

One of the oddest/best/most interesting albums to come out this month is “Two Suns” by Bat for Lashes a.k.a. Natasha Khan. Khan is the consummate artist, melding music and visual arts into a single entity. According to an interview done when her first album came out, Khan sees her songs not only as auditory slabs of story, but also as visual pieces of work with characters, settings and movement. Listening to “Two Suns” definitely lets us peek into that world; Khan structures her songs as organic pieces of music. They seem to grow throughout the CD, and even though there isn’t a concept, or recurring theme, the album is a cohesive unit. The first single “Daniel” is forced to stand on it’s own for radio and video play, but is a much stronger song within the context of the album.

Songs like “Pearl’s Dream”, “Siren Song”, and “Good Love” feature the lush/sparse orchestration that defines this record. “Good Love” especially reminds one of a minimalist track, akin to Tom Waits’ ethereal madness; spoken word, haunting vocals, odd noises, and yet, somehow, it all works together. “Two Suns” isn’t so much something that you listen to, as it is something you experience. It’s not the kind of album that you throw into a shuffle on your iPod. This is one of those special albums that you take in rather than passively incorporate it into your everyday. Much like a Waits or Bjork album, it’s something that probably won’t go with the rest of your music.

If you like sparse, yet somehow lush orchestration, soaring vocals, quirky song structure and a little bit of insanity then “Two Suns” is the album for you. Track “Two Planets” strikes the perfect balance for Khan, who is looking for “the fine line between passion and violence.” Its tribal drums alone make you think of it as an aggressive track but Khan’s vocals make it something that is somehow soothing and disconcerting at the same time.

It is the perfect album to zone out with on a sunny afternoon on a deck, when you’re feeling slightly existential. The fine line between beauty and threat makes this album one of my picks to soundtrack the end of the world.

Bat for Lashes Official Site
Bat for Lashes on MySpace
Bat for Lashes - “Two Suns” on Amazon

Release Date: April 7th, 2009

“Two Suns” - Tracklist
(* recommended tracks)

1. Glass
2. Sleep Alone
3. Moon and Moon
4. Daniel*
5. Peace of Mind
6. Siren Song
7. Pearl’s Dream*
8. Good Love
9. Two Planets*
10. Travelling Woman
11. The Big Sleep

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