REVIEW: BAT FOR LASHES AT BRISTOL ANSON ROOMS (02/11/12)
The Anson Room has been on fire of late, hosting sold out gigs from the likes of Beach House, and tonight it’s the turn of the beautiful Bat for Lashes. The mesmerising Natasha Khan has clearly been very busy. Writing songs, learning to dance and seeking change and all of this has paid off. With the release of the recent album, ‘The Haunted Man’, Bat for Lashes have been dominating the music press for weeks – whether it’s for the quality of the songs or the daring front cover, a naked Khan carrying a fully-grown man, Bat for Lashes are a force to be reckoned with at the moment.
Taking to the stage dressed in a grand black and white gown, with the dignity and poise for which she has become known, Natasha looks like an elegant film star. Opening with ‘Lilies’ is a curious move but is quickly overtaken by a faultless rendidtion of ‘What’s A Girl To Do?’. It is here that we start to see how Khan’s graceful, ballerina-esque moves compliment the dreamy, whimsical music perfectly. They go on to play a good selection of material from the new album, including ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘A Wall’ and ‘Rest Your Head’ and while these all prove pleasant enough, it isn’t until she returns to some older material, that the gig really gets going.
The stunning ‘Trophy’ proves a highlight of the set, during which Khan’s birdlike vocals really shine and her Kate Bush-style moves and appeal weave their way to the front. ‘Horse and I’ is equally compelling, with Khan whispering: “The smell of redwood giants, the banquet for the shadows. Horse and I, we’re dancers in the dark’. Each song becomes a mini-fairytale, a story so powerful you feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The pace picks up a little with ‘Pearl’s Dream’, a new take on an old song – with Khan brandishing maracas. Sadly, recent single ‘Laura’ seems lost in an otherwise terrific set.
The encore consists of a unique version of ‘The Haunted Man’, whereby Khan toys with a portable radio, adding depth and intrigue to the song, she expells the vocals and lyrics with a wry smile on her face and comments on how much she loves Bristol. The piece de resistance comes at the very end with a rousing ‘Daniel’, one of Bat For Lashes’ best known songs to date. A cracking end to a truly beautiful evening.
Words: Laura Williams
