Tuesday Tune: Bat For Lashes
August 28, 2007
Photograph by Chris Edwards.
The free track from iTunes this week is ‘What’s a Girl to Do?’ by Bat For Lashes. I’d heard a lot of good things about Bat For Lashes, so was quite eager to hear the track, & I wasn’t disappointed!
Bat For Lashes is the brainchild of Pakistan-born (although mainly brought up & educated in Britain) singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, & visual artist Natasha Khan. After finishing a University degree in film & music & whilst working as a nursery school teacher, she had a dream one night that inspired her first album ‘Fur and Gold’, & as they say, the rest is history.
The song is haunting & ethereal-sounding, with dark lyrics - exactly my type of track! It reminds me of a few darkwave/goth tracks that I have. I’m sure many people will disagree, as she’s been likened to more mainstream artists such as Bjork, Feist, Tori Amos, Kate Bush & Cat Power, but I can hear her as a poppier & British Switchblade Symphony. Maybe it’s just me. I really like the song, though, & the creepy sound of it is emphasised by the video that accompanies it:
I’ve noticed a lot of people have compared it to Donnie Darko & since the Bat For Lashes’ MySpace page cites the film as an influence, maybe they’re right. I’ll definitely be listening to this song a lot & will check out the other tracks she has to offer.
Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I’ve seen you through bc. I’ve been on an 80’s big hair band kick lately with my listening habits.
Yay for itunes free tracks! It’s DRM free too! Makes me think of ‘It Can’t Rain All The Time’ by Jane SIberry from The Crow OST. Haunting, beautiful, makes me cry and think of the past in ways that I don’t want to!