Bat For Lashes
I want to start off by saying, it would be extremely easy at first glance to write Natasha Khan off as one of those pretentious hipster indie-musicians who are all flair and no substance until she begins to sing. Her stage set at the Bowery on Thursday was decorated with so many religious icons I became concerned she’d start praying on stage. BUT (and this is incredibly important so pay strict attention) she is so unbelievably delightful, sincere, and soulful when she performs that you forgive her for wearing a tutu around her neck. You even start to think, “Maybe I would look cute in one of those. And some glitter. And some skintight leather pants.”
Khan performs under the moniker Bat For Lashes and if you’re one to check Pitchfork and Stereogum (or the mtvU Music Blog AHEM) you will know that the blogosphere has been abuzz over this artist for quite some time. With the release of Two Suns she presents a more somber side but one I happen to greatly appreciate, so I skedaddled off downtown to hear her sing live for the first time.
I won’t mince words here. SHE WAS HANDS-DOWN FANTASTIC. So fantastic that I stood there, barely able to sway to the music, because I was held in such captive awe. (And even though I am prone to hyperbole, this is no exaggeration.) She has such incredible range and some of the key changes she managed didn’t even seem HUMAN. Standouts of the night included tracks “Sleep Alone,” a stripped down version of “Daniel,” “Wizard” and “Tahiti” but far and away the real serious business took place during the encore. A fantastic, ethereal live performance of “Prescilla” and then “Moon and Moon” (a personal favorite) with Khan on the keyboards for both, finally ending the show with a reprise of “Daniel” that stayed true to the recorded version.
Perhaps this is a bit new-agey (new age-ish?) but there is something about seeing an artist on-stage during a live performance that allows you to evaluate their sincerity. Khan barely watches the audience when she plays, so consumed with the logistics of the song, yet thanks the audience so profusely for listening. There’s no other way to really say it; she is an artist who literally pours herself into the work and we’ve been allowed to watch.
This was one of the best shows I have ever attended, which is a bold statement but a necessary one.
