10.2.12 - New Music - Bat For Lashes

For those who don’t know, Bat For Lashes is one of the bigger names in the indie pop world. Think Cat Power or Laura Marling-sized fame. If you don’t know them either than you’re in for an education.

Bat For Lashes is actually just one person. Her name is Natasha Khan, and no, I don’t know where that name comes from. A British singer-songwriter (apparently that’s all I write about now), BFL released her first album back in 2006, but she really came to prominence in 2009 when her ‘Two Suns’ album was released. She had already established herself as a name in the underground, but it was time to rise above.

‘Two Suns’ went to #5 in the UK and charted in the US (#141, but still…). The single “Daniel” helped push the album, and that song was one of the bigger indie tracks of that year (it was a top 40 hit in the UK in 2009).

Khan’s new album ‘The Haunted Man’ is out later this month, so she’s been releasing singles again. I missed writing about first single “Laura”, but I didn’t want to skip over her second single. The new track, whose video came out on September 30th, is called “All Your Gold”.

This whole “gold” thing is a trend, isn’t it? Kind of like how a year or so ago everyone was writing songs about being yourself and “We R Who We R”, “Born This Way”, etc.? Well, now you need to say the word “gold” in there somewhere. Neon Hitch did it. Owl City did it. Some other people I can’t think of at the moment have done it. Who’s next?

“All Your Gold” is understated and great, as is the video. This is what Bat For Lashes is known for, so it’s good to see she is sticking with what people love her for (but still pushing her sound).