Bat for Lashes
Peter was all rabid about wanting to go to see Bat for Lashes last night at the du Nord, and thanks to a ticket hook-up from Christopher we were able to get in on the house list.
Natasha Khan's a total weirdo, but in more of an English/Pakistani fairy version of California freak folk, which I find more palatable. And her band is killer. The whole performance was overall rather feral, in a good way of course. She's got a great voice and a magnetic stage presence. The audience was practically drooling all over her.
Oddly, her creepy burner stagehand had a tattoo in gothic lettering on his shoulder that said JISM.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's straight-up gorgeous.
And check out this high-larious paragraph from her bio:
It was whilst working as a nursery school teacher, following her university degree in film and music, that Fur and Gold album opener 'Horse & I' came to Natasha in a dream. Inspired by tales of Joan of Arc, Natasha is woken by a black horse at the window and sent on a fateful quest. This extraordinary dream became the muse for the songs that now comprise Fur and Gold.
posted by Elka @ 9:45 AM
1 Comments:
The Bat for Lashes debut is one of those guilty pleasures that you start to feel less and less guilty about once you become familiar with the lovely songs under all of the pretentious baroque stylings, and forgive Natascha her dorky Dungeons and Dragons/ Elfquest lyrical sensibilities. I really think she's an amazing major talent and am surprised there wasn't more buzz around the record (now finally available domestically). I've been pimping her music since last Summer.
You have to give her a chance to sell you on all of the fey and precious chamber rock, but if you spin the record at least 4-5 times and be patient, there's a really good chance you'll be spellbound, especially if you are sympathetic to Sinead, Kate Bush, Bjork or other diaphanous divas of that ilk. The record is a subtle "grower" that rewards repeated listens.
I thought the show was really something special, dorky Renaissance-Faire costumes and make-up notwithstanding, and am grateful I got to see her in such an intimate setting.
Sincere thanks to Christopher, Elka and the door folks at Cafe du Nord, who waved us through even though our names hadn't actually made it to the list.
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