Two Suns is the second album from Brighton songstress Natasha Khan and in short, is a ravishing pop record. It follows her Mercury nominated debut, Fur & Gold which was released in 2006 and thankfully, this so called difficult second album dazzles brightly on it's own.
The album tells tales of a souring relationship and it's eventual break up, but not the type that would have you reaching for the razor blades. It begins with off kilter beats in opening track Glass and it pulls you straight into Khan's enchanting world allowing you to absorb her lyrics and the eventual motif of the album. The single to precede the album, Daniel and album track Pearl's Dream are all out 80's themed pop songs. Pearl's Dream being reminiscent of Kate Bush or Laurie Anderson, features members of Yeasayer who lend their talents to this and other tracks on the album.
Also featuring on Two Suns is Scott Walker, who appears on closing track The Big Sleep, a simple and beautiful song with two very different vocals accompanied by a piano and the smallest amount of electronics and strings.
Khan revealed that while during the making of Two Suns in New York and the Californian desert, she discovered her blonde enchantress alter ego, Pearl. However, only slight bursts of this seductress can be heard through the album and namely through Daniel, Two Planets and of course Pearl's Dream.
Two Suns in all, is a fine recipe of harsh electronics, lineal beats and string instruments but, it's the honesty and truthfulness that Khan expresses throughout, that in my opinion, is what makes this such a fine, majestic album and definitely one of the best in 2009 so far.
Bat For Lashes:Two Suns is out in Ireland this Friday April 3rd.
Take a peek HERE to see Bat For Lashes live at Maida Vale for the Zane Lowe show on BBC Radio 1 performing Sleep Alone.
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