Bat for Lashes’ Two Suns shows unprecedented maturity and growth that few artists achieve in their sophomore effort (especially considering the high praise her first record Horse and I received). Such did not go unnoticed among her peers, as Thom Yorke asked her to open up for Radiohead in 2007. Bat for Lashes is the moniker for Natasha Khan, who was born to a Pakistani father and English mother, and currently resides in Brighton, England. In addition to being a multi-instrumentalist, she has produced multi-media work centered around sound installations, animations and performance.  These talents lead to the fresh arrangements on Two Suns.

The opening track “Glass” sets the tone for the record with its dark, ominous drums playing behind the soft strum of guitars. The first single “Daniel” is a traditional love song and perhaps the only straightforward song on the record.  “Pearl’s Dream” is a standout track with addictive melodies. Musically, the record is rich with subtle synths and soft piano that juxtapose the grinding drums perfectly. However, it is Khan’s brilliant vocal range that stands out on this release.  Her vocals are dynamic and become the lead instrument.

Lyrically, Two Suns tells mystical stories of the chaos of the universe and the parallels to everyday life.  On “Pearl’s Dream” she sings, “Hear the desert sigh/Sing the city’s lullaby/The giant iris of the wide blue sky/Showing me the way.” She leads the listener on a voyage through the kingdoms beneath the sky, the moon and stars. The vocal comparisons to Bjork are obvious, but Khan’s songwriting puts her in a league with current female songwriters such as Lykke Li and Karen Drijer Andersson (Fever Ray).

Natasha Khan does not strive for accessibility with this record, bringing us into a her world of bright, cosmic chaos to the darkness of loneliness. Two Suns will end up on many end of year lists and will thrust Bat for Lashes further into a well deserving and brighter spotlight.  This record adds to an already amazing year for indie music.

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