Bat for Lashes

Fur and Gold (Caroline)

By Kim Newman
Published: August 24th, 2007 | 3:38pm

Bat for Lashes is British singer-songwriter Natasha Khan’s musical project and Fur and Gold is her debut released nearly one year ago in the UK to critical acclaim. With an album of dreamy textures telling the tales of mythical beasts and fantasylands, Khan is clearly a graduate of the Kate Bush University of Dramatic Literary Music, and she wears Bush’s influence like a badge. With a soprano that is far less otherworldly, Khan’s ballads are similarly intricate and full of classical arrangements that touch on themes of nature and the English countryside. Yet as proud as she is with tipping her head towards her musical forbear through her dramatic storytelling, Khan uses her own unique flourishes, peppering the album with electronic beats and endless hand claps.

Fur and Gold doesn’t use easy hooks and memorable melodies, but instead creates a palpable cinematic mood, particularly on original U.K. album closer “I Saw a Light.” Employing traditional instruments like violins and a harpsichord and slowing most rhythms to a crawl, Khan alters tracks like “What’s a Girl To Do?” from a simple pop song about love gone wrong to a dark complicated tale of broken hearts. Then there’s the U.S. exclusive track, a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” What was once a sexy but restrained tale of longing has been transformed into something much more sinister and dangerous.