Almost 15 years ago, Natasha Khan was seen as a beacon of hope for indie pop. Since then, she has surpassed all expectations. As Bat For Lashes, she has developed an increasingly ambitious and innovative sound. With absolutely no sign of stagnation. The starting point, however, has always been artful synth-pop, and so it is on “The Dream Of Delphi”, the British artist’s sixth album, which she dedicates to her daughter. The album has her name in the title, because after giving birth, Khan was bursting with creativity.
Once again, an ambitious project was born, this time influenced by various soundtracks and ambient records, resulting in perhaps the most ethereal sound of Khan’s career to date. Tracks like “The Midwives Have Left” recall Julianna Barwick in a poppy way, “Home” Björk in a grounded way. While the sound changes like this, the atmosphere escapes into the nebulous. Only here and there melodies flash through, for example in “Breaking Up” with synthesiser and saxophone. “The Dream Of Delphi” demands more in its fleetingness than any of Khan’s previous albums. It’s a sound that completely surrounds you, that you have to dive into to understand. Close your eyes and dive in. You’ll be rewarded with some fantastic songs.
