Bat For Lashes – Lost Girls

Bat For Lashes – Lost Girls
Reader Rating0 Votes
4.4

Sultrous, swarming synths merge to create a spooky atmosphere as La La Land is taken over by vampires and submerged in horror. It’s not all shrouded in darkness and mystery however, there’s a brightness and burst of fun throughout. The first half of the record invites you to dance and rave in the Beverley Hills, disco and house influences appearing, there’s a Hacienda element in there somewhere.

It’s no surprise that ‘Vampires’ appears at half-way. It not only centralises the narrative and cinematic elements of Lost Girls – this album was inspired by a script about a vampire girl-gang – but it also signals the transition from the introduction to the climax. It’s the key middle point any great film needs. But it also signals the transition from the show-stopping, beautifully produced singles into the more instrumental tracks – the more trademark Bat For Lashes material – as the saxophone takes over, seduces you, and sucks all the blood from your veins, leaving you on the floor, flattened like a ball that’s just been tripped up by a nail in the school playground.

The transition from beginning to end, from day to night, from over-world to underworld, it’s all wonderfully done. Kahn produces a script or develops an idea for a film before each record – fact– and Lost Girls is no different. The execution is magnifique, incredible, bold. The structure and story is clear and you’re able to visualise the narrative Kahn is telling. This is no different from her previous LPs, she’s mastered this craft over her quintet of albums, but Lost Girls is more complete than its predecessors. There is more of the author across the album and less emphasis is placed on fictitious characters. Lost Girls was made as Natasha Kahn moved from LA to London, and her migration is there for all to hear. The influence of the vampire movie is put to the backdrop of a noir trip through the LA underworld – representing Kahn’s move from the UK to La La Land – whilst the 80s sounds filter through – a deliberate throwback to Kahn’s childhood. 

This is one for those Friday nights where everyone’s busy. Sit on the couch, lift up the needle and whack on this 12 inch. Pour yourself somethin’ strong and close your eyes. You’re in L.A now, just not as you thought you knew it.

Haiku Review
Afraid of the dark?
Mythical creatures seek war
As synths start to swarm

Listen to Bat For Lashes on Spotify and Apple Music.

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