Bat For Lashes

While Natasha Khan's debut sounds like it was cultivated in an enchanted forest, this follow-up takes her eerie psych-pop into a whole new wonderland. Where Fur & Gold thrives on negative space, Two Suns floods it with booming percussion, shamanic chants, trembling synths, piano, organ, strings, even a gospel choir ("Peace of Mind"). Khan's vocals remain the main attraction, flowing with the fragility of Tori Amos and the exoticness of Bjork. As mystical as the headdresses Khan dons, this album is mesmerizing, from opener "Glass" to the cryptic closing duet with Scott Walker.

Radiohead handpicked her to tour with them last year, but Natasha Khan would have
probably felt more comfortable at some Renaissance fair, playing only for unicorns. With
Autoharp odes to crystal knights and songs that claim to channel her alternate personality,
"Pearl," the British singer-songwriter might be indie rock's only authentic mystic.
Somehow, the music melts away the potential for hokeyness: Pounding on piano... More >