Album: Two Suns
Artist: Bat For Lashes
Label: Parlophone
Release date: 6th April 2009
Listen to the album in Spotify
For all the critical plaudits it received at the time, Bat For Lashes‘ first album, Fur And Gold, never really captured my imagination. Two Suns is a very different animal. When it doesn’t quite work (“Two Planets”), it’s good. When it does, it’s exceptional. You can, if you so choose, get thoroughly involved with the mythology of the songs; themes of loneliness, duality (embodied in a self-destructive alter ego by the name of Pearl) and loss – but the music stands well enough on its own to make it enjoyable even without that level of emotional resonance.
This is testament to the talent, both as singer and songwriter, of Bat For Lashes (real name Natasha Khan). In particular, the driving melancholia of “Sleep Alone” stands out, along with “Moon And Moon”, reminiscent in the best possible way of PJ Harvey.
Two Suns‘ best songs take up the first half of the album; from “Peace Of Mind” onwards, the electronica element can become a little jarring. Overall, the later songs are still very good (“Good Love” providing something of a resurgence), but don’t really match up to the quality on display in songs like “Daniel”, which has an endearingly wistful tone, paired with a tune which will very quickly embed itself in your head. At its best, Two Suns almost brings to mind the work of Imogen Heap, not by any means a bad role model.
The weakest song on the album by far is “The Big Sleep”, which for me is spoiled by Scott Walker‘s vocals. On balance, though, Two Suns is definitely worth a listen, in particular the earlier songs. For once, it seems, the popular press have hit the nail on the head.
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Alex Kelly is a blogger and student living in London, UK. 
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I’m a fan. Glass is a favourite.