Bat for Lashes
The Bride
Not to immediately begin writing in the first person, but I have been waiting for this album with such immense anticipation I'm not really sure what to say.
The Bride is Bat for Lashes' (real name: Natasha Khan) fourth album, and it is an ethereal masterpiece. While it might not have the instantaneous impact of Two Suns or The Haunted Man, its sound alone will transport you to another realm, where you are certain you are watching Khan's fictional story-line play out in front of you.
For those of you who haven't been following every single press release surrounding this album like I have, the mini-opera goes something like: girl falls for boy, boy dies on the way to marry girl, girl weaves through a series of transcendent experiences to overcome her grief and come out a better person on the other side.
And the experience truly is transcendent. While the first six songs (the first half of the album) contain every promotional single, the entire tale must be heard all together, with the second half creating ghostly soundscapes which serve as mesmerizing backdrops for our heroine's trip to self-discovery.
As tragedy turns to realization, and actualization, the songs turn from pop-ready to hauntingly experimental; from Goldfrapp to Perfume Genius. In fact, much of The Bride is very similar to Mike Hadreas' brilliant Too Bright, in that the occasional flash of radio-ready populism like his "Queen" or "Grid" is surrounded by ambient keyboards on "Fool" or more appropriately, "I'm a Mother." Here, Khan's sales pitch is "In God's House," or "Sunday Love," both fantastic songs to be sure, but they're counterpointed by double-take laboratories of sound like "Close Encounters" and album closer "Clouds."
The Bride's most familiar sound will probably come from "Joe's Dream," which has all the hallmarks of the Bat for Lashes sound: deeply affecting vocals, intense strings, and a subtle-yet-captivating beat. The previously mentioned "Sunday Love" is very much akin to The Haunted Man's "All Your Gold," in that, despite its lyrical content, it's very much upbeat, fast-paced, and clearly heading for the mainstream.
But then there's "In God's House" and "Honeymooning Alone." The former I personally have been in awe with since it was originally released as the lead single. It's driving synth bass and almost-creepy tone are so very anti-BfL it's astonishing. It's unlike anything Khan's done before, and her repertoire is now even greater for it.
The latter might be the best song she's written (other than "Daniel" or "Marilyn" or "Deep Sea Diver"). "Honeymooning Alone" is so incredibly dense with new sounds previously unused by Khan that it's like listening to a different artist completely. The closest comparison I can make is Portishead, in that it's very trip-hop and reminds me of their masterpiece, Third, and it's opening track, "Silence."
The single-ready songs immediately drop off into the slow burn of "Never Forgive the Angels," Khan's angriest, and least subtle track yet, before delving into the out-of-tune instruments backing "Close Encounters," the ASMR and drone of "Widow's Peak," and the inspirational high-point of "If I Knew."
We end with the beautifully rendered "Clouds," a song so perfectly gorgeous it challenges every other Bat for Lashes closer for the title of "most jaw-dropping musical arrangement." As always, Khan's voice is spectacular in her higher register, and is impeccably accompanied by a lonely guitar and slightly distressing synth moans. This is the fairy tale ending our Bride has been seeking, even though it's not the one she planned. A tearful acceptance that grief is a part of life, and that living through it is what gives our existence meaning.
To be sure, The Bride is hard work. It is not a piece you go into casually, nor will your journey through it be without turmoil and hardship. But much like the main character of this audio-play, your traversing the entire course is not only worth the reward, but will transform you into a stronger person. Khan's work with Bat for Lashes has always aimed to tell stories in the most emotionally direct way, and in this epic tale she does so with tactics and techniques that make you strive to reach that same happily ever after.
No comments:
Post a Comment