This hauntingly rich soundscape of an album is certainly the most innovate, curious and different release of 2007. Perhaps the most successful and potent example of the later decades trend for cool, vulnerable and aesthetically lavish musical packages, (think Florence and the Machine, Marina and the Diamonds, etc. etc.), Bat for Lashes creates an opulent yet refined and subtle audio and visual experience. The timbres all hark from a cool, eerie, stark place that creates a collective ambience of bewitching fragility that is truly feminine and not at all girly. The artistic and creative control that Khan has over every aspect of Bat of Lashes has been successfully measured, yet has all the authenticity and passion of an intelligent, creative lady who really knows what she is doing.
Being such a distinct departure from her slightly staid grunge inspired indie, this album was not always well received by expectant (and perhaps stagnant) fans. However, I personally feel this is Harvey’s best album, with a more modern, fresh sound than previous works. Abandoning the guitar, her instrumental mainstay, for the piano, Harvey creates delicate ballads with high-pitched fragile vocals that connect with her twisted lyrics as well as her previous penchant for banish-like snarling. Harvey’s work has always captured female angst perfectly; here she captures our introspective vulnerability. “When Under Ether” is a particular highlight.