After her weird video came out for "What's a Girl to Do" in 2008, Bat for Lashes went from being a little indie chick singer to an international name. If you haven't listened to Bat for Lashes, you're missing out. Her second studio album "Two Suns" was released in April and contains some great tracks.
I'm likely to enjoy anyone who performs using a stage name (Lady Gaga!), but Bat for Lashes would have caught my attention regardless of her name thanks to her catchy tunes. Her real name is Natasha Khan and she now lives in Brighton, where her video for "Daniel" was filmed.
Her music is a music of ethereal poetry and synth pop rock. Like Tori Amos, she's one of those artists with unbelievably cryptic lyrics, but she can get away with it. "Daniel", her first single from her second album, has been compared to Stevie Knicks, with some saying it sounds like a lost track of hers from the 80s. "Daniel" is a song about a imaginary boy Bat for Lashes fell in love with during her teen years. The best part? Imaginary Daniel is based on the Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso.
With the resurgence of 80s fashion, it's no surprise that 80s music is making a comeback as well. Like Ladyhawke, Bat for Lashes makes use of the synthetic pop sounds that were so popular in the 80s. I may not be okay with the return of 80s fashion (faded denim and shoulder pads, no thank you!), but I'm lovin' the return of 80s synth pop, especially when it's combined with cryptic lyrics and a more ethereal sound.
Bat for Lashes first came onto the scene back in 2006 with the release of "Fur and Gold". In 2008, she garnered more attention when she released her crazy video for "What's a Girl to Do", complete with men wearing creepy animal heads doing tricks on bikes. No, seriously. If you haven't watched it yet, go.
Here at BitchBuzz, we like Bat for Lashes so much that we included her on our list of 75 Albums Every Woman Should Own.
While Bat for Lashes has only released a few singles from each of her albums, both are filled with songs that have the potential to be solo tracks. Her songs feature catchy choruses that border on almost pop-y, but the meaning behind them and the Björk-esque nature of her music elevates it to an entirely new level. Her songs feature not only catchy lyrics, but a soothing melodic musical background that makes her music fun to listen to. Both of her albums have a consistent sound throughout without sounding like you're listening to the same song over and over again.
You can buy "Fur and Gold" and "Two Suns" both online and in stores. And you should, Bat for Lashes is awesome.