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October 10, 2007

Bats for Lashes - Live @ Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO 10.05.07

Bat For Lashes is Natasha Khan's band. You realize this within the first few minutes of the performance. She has a graceful, intoxicating presence and all the energy created from the band appears to emit from her. A stunning performer to observe and quite something to look at. She's absolutely gorgeous in a strikingly exotic way, attributed to her background of Pakistani & British parents. All magnified by an eclectic wardrobe of Eastern headdresses and the trademark eye makeup keeping in line with the cosmic-hippie vibe so prevalent in the music. She comes off like a total sweetheart to boot - one hundred percent heartbreaker material.

Lest I give the impression her surrounding band is a bunch of slouches, I'll go on record saying they are not. The all female foursome back Khan's wondrous vocals by actualizing a delicately deliberate style perfectly suited for the difficult task of not overwhelming the singing. And what a voice!. Like a cross between a less breathy Tori Amos and the controlled wail of Björk.

Much like the live action mischief seen from zany Montreal bands, the Bat For Lashes gals are constantly on the move. Swapping instruments quicker than you could deduce what was being played. Often choosing strange instruments looking like pillaged relics from a found freight container lost by the Arcade Fire. No drum set to speak of, but plenty of percussion. Be it front of stage floor toms, snares, handclaps (!) or stickball bats to the floor, the band has no shortage of rhythmic devices to choose. I hesitate to call it tribal, but the percussive flourishes deserve some sort of mythical characterization. They'd be even more prominent if they didn't exist almost solely in minimalist roles, though as hinted above, any other method wouldn't work. At one point you could actually hear the rasp from the moment when fingers strummed against guitar strings. Something I can't imagine was planned, yet resulted perfect. Apropos to the movement demanding more with less -- which is exactly the result.

Bats For Lashes' is pegged with mysticism and the environment created on "What's a Girl To Do?" (whose opening drums sound like the beginning of about three different Wolf Parade songs), doesn't hurt the argument in support. Not so much from the overdone lyrics questioning fizzling love ("the thrill is gone/ And your kisses at night/ Are replaced by tears"), but from the lead tom stomping and fairly dramatic spoken word opening verse. Lead track off Fur and Gold "Horse And I" is also complicit but this time from a lyrical standpoint: "This is yours to wear/ You're the chosen one, there's no turning back." Another suspect of creeping tribalism but again, not quite guilty. Even with the theremin cameo. This time the keys get the spastic treatment while drums go marching and strings get plucky.

Overall a very entertaining and fun show. Too bad the place was only half full, next time no excuses! A resounding Wow from Merry Swankster, not just due to hotness exuded but from HOTNESS radiated by arguably the most dynamic all girl band I've seen in some time. What most excites me about Bats For Lashes is the excitement of what the future holds in terms of exploiting the grand potential of this young band. With their existing playful base of colors and eagerness to mix things up, who knows what's to come next.

[Follow the jump for a ton more pictures, my favorite Bats For Lashes song and list of remaining tourdates.]

Posted by Merry Swankster at October 10, 2007 12:42 PM

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Posted by: me at October 10, 2007 05:55 PM

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