Natasha Khan, also known as one-woman act Bat for Lashes, is an artistic genius wrapped up in the slight figure of a 33-year-old British woman. With her unique blend of hazy, atmospheric synth, and breathy vocals, this songstress exposes her deepest self in her most recent album, The Haunted Man, released late last year.
After promotion of her sophomore album, 2009’s Two Suns, had finished, Khan felt the need to remedy the severe case of writer’s block that was plaguing her. Taking a hiatus at home that included a class in children’s book illustration as well as a period of intensive dance training, she was able to gain back a source of inspiration. Sparking from this was her newest installment, The Haunted Man.
Blossoming with symphonic power, The Haunted Man is in many ways a more direct version of Khan’s earlier work, allowing her room for more honesty and intentionality. The most obvious change is visual. Khan, who is known for her tokenized style of feathers, headdresses, and animal pendants, has rid herself of nearly all of these pieces of her former style in favor of a new minimalistic aesthetic. However, she retains a sense of whimsy, evident in the video for the single “Lilies,” a stop-motion piece that features furry creatures that could easily star in a children’s show.
Bat for Lashes will be in Madison next Monday, August 26 at the Majestic Theatre. The chance to see such a creative genius in action would be hard to pass up.