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Bat For Lashes: Two Suns
Written by Pete Burgess
Whilst the British indie scene has ushered in the era of the bland synth pop female solo artist, Natasha Khan’s peacock feather festooned return as Bat For Lashes couldn’t be a more welcome antidote. She burst onto the scene with 2006’s excellent Fur and Gold, which saw her earn apt comparisons to similarly eccentric artists Björk and Kate Bush. For the most part, Two Suns carries on where her acclaimed debut left off.
Every song present is individual and atmospheric, but many ebbing and flowing instrumental touches maintain the sense of artistic unity. Lead single ‘Daniel’ introduces synths that weren’t present on the debut and ‘Peace of Mind’ is backed by a gospel choir. The breathtaking pinnacle of the album is ‘Pearl’s Dream’; full of textural variety, a number of musical threads come together by its climax, when dry multi-tracked vocals and handclaps are cut through by Khan’s reverberating solo line.
A graduate of music and visual arts, Khan’s creations stretch beyond her intricate instrumental arrangements: Two Suns is a concept album, centred around not only her Bat For Lashes character, but also around her new, more primal alter ego Pearl. Its cover is stunningly symbol-laden, and her choices for collaborators are inspired.
New York experimentalists Yeasayer provide momentum, subtly adding their characteristic synths and beats to some tracks, and the reclusive Scott Walker duets with Khan on the stilling closer ‘The Big Sleep’. Always intriguing, Two Suns feels even more cohesive than Fur and Gold, and it looks set only to add to the acclaim Khan has already received. If you can handle her eccentricity, you’re very likely to agree that this is one of the albums of the year so far.
Two Suns is due to be released on Monday 6 April.
Bat For Lashes: Official Website | MySpace
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: Beware
Written by Jonathan Wilkes.
Will Oldham’s (aka. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) eighth solo record has been appropriately titled. Beware has split opinions: some saying it is some of his strongest while others criticise how polished it sounds compared to earlier, more roughly produced, work. Personally, I thought it was flawless in its poignancy and is an authentic country-music-epic.
The intimacy of Beware is apparent from its powerful opening tracks. 'Beware Your Only Friend' is all-out country with female chorus singers, an acoustic guitar, fiddles and lyrics full of sentiment and hopeful optimism. Oldham’s voice is as sweet and yet haunting as ever but here it seems more welcoming than previous records.
With a myriad of incredibly talented musicians (including Jon Langford and Leroy Bach) and instruments including country favourites like banjos, mandolins, slide guitars, Beware is ambitious but yet perfectly controlled and tempered. Mixing upbeat tracks with more depressing works with ease (there is nothing too lively or too melancholy), Oldham shows a comprehensive understanding of the genre he is part of and a maturity of his own style that is a joy to listen to.
'You Can't Hurt Me Now' is heart wrenching, with slide guitar and marimbas, and overflowing with catharsis. With a satirical humour, Oldham presents his most personal and poignant music, and yet always remains in character as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Folk and country is going through a resurgence of popularity at the moment (Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom) but the Prince remains faithful and at the head of his art.
With growing inspirations from Presley, 'I Don't Belong To Anyone' and 'I Won't Ask Again' ache of the King’s memory. It is really only in 'There Is Something I Have To Say' that his original style of desolation and despair comes in. 'Heart's Arms' is a paradigm of his stunning lyrics: "Why don’t you write me anymore? What did you bind my heart’s arms for?" showing Beware to hold nothing back. There is, however, always a ray of hope amidst the gloom.
On first listen, Beware is elegant, beautiful, and almost addictive. As with all of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, however, at least two more playbacks are needed before you start to truly understand the tracks and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by them. With lyrics of romance and longing, beautifully performed, Beware is packed with passion. Oldham may not sound like he is about to break down in the middle of recording in this record; but he certainly loses nothing of his heart or sensitivity.
Beware is out now.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: MySpace
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