As a means of getting through the full set of Mercury nominees before the next lot are announced, I'm running a back to back review of Bat for Lashes and Florence & The Machine's offerings. These acts are filed in the same mental pigeon hole in my brain - kooky women vocalists. I should mention at this point, that's a good place.
I've always thought that Florence was stealing Natasha Bat's thunder a bit, but I guess being in the right place at the right time counts for a lot. Perhaps Natasha was a bit ahead of her time... Anyway, Florence being the pundits favourite, I expect great things.
So cards on the table, I found Two Suns by far and away the more interesting of the two albums: much more variation, and Natasha has an excellent voice. Don't get me wrong, Lungs is a fine effort which I have happily listened to since without being held down and forced. I just felt it lacked variety and Florence's voice becomes rather whiney to my ears after a while.
That said, Lungs features one of the finest tracks of the last few years in Kiss With A Fist. I challenge anyone to listen to it without even thinking about leaping about. I ended up listening to the extended special edition of the album, which definitely overstays its welcome. I'd recommend stopping at or around the Candi Staton cover You've Got The Love; which, by the way, adds little to the original, but is clearly a crowd pleaser at live shows.
To my favoured album of the pair. Two Suns veers dangerously close to complete dippyness at many junctures and I'll admit it's not to everyone's taste. I think there's meant to be some overarching concept about Natasha's alter ego, Pearl. Whatever. The quality of the songs doesn't really need this scaffolding and the album is structured rather nicely, with what seems a journey through either a relationship or a whole lifetime. Can't quite decide and can't be bothered to research what the music press thinks. The singles Daniel and Pearl's Dream are strong tracks. The album hinges on Siren Song, which appears to document a psychotic breakdown between two conflicting personalities: the preceding songs feeling significantly more settled and static than the subsequent ones which see the album setting off on a journey. This is all backed by some great synthy music, with hooks that get into your brain very easily.
Where can you listen to more? Both available on Spotify: Bat For Lashes – Two Suns and Florence and The Machine – Lungs. Also try Myspace: Bat for Lashes and Florence and The Machine.
PS if you have a copy of A Forest by The Cure knocking about, listen to it just after Daniel. Eerily similar. Possibly no coincidence that Bat For Lashes covered that very track on a Cure tribute album. Bat For Lashes – A Forest.
PPS I keep linking to Spotify and realise that it's no longer open for all to register freely. Spotify invites to the first two comments to this post!!!
2 comments:
Strangely enough, when I listen to Lungs I usually skip past Kiss with a Fist - I find it a bit unsettling! I may be missing the point completely, and I don't usually express such liver-livered hippy views as this, but to me, more than any other song I've heard it seems to glamorise domestic violence. The gleeful delivery only makes it more disturbing!
I see your point - although I never interpreted it quite like that. I'd taken it to be the story of one of those relationships which only exist based on mutual loathing and sniping. Both parties are clearly involved in the escalating cartoon violence resulting in furniture arson.
Anyway - let me know your email and I'll send you a Spotify invite...
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