Review: Bat For Lashes, O2 Academy, Bournemouth

ATTENDING a Bat For Lashes show is like being sprinkled with fairy dust and whisked into a magical kingdom. The stage was filled with mysterious clouds and full moons that wouldn’t look out of place on postcards of Narnia or Oz.

A hush descended as Bat For Lashes singer-songwriter Natasha Khan tip-toed shyly in front of the audience. From then Khan held the venue captivated by her alluring voice and commanding, all-consuming presence, with tracks from this year’s Mercury Award nominated Two Suns and 2006’s Fur and Gold all swirling around like a hurricane.

Enabling her to create this fantasy was former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley who thrashed her guitar and drums like a scorned lover.

The awe-struck audience were fully immersed in the show and only started to come to life when the big singles Daniel and Pearl’s Dream were played.

The encore saw a novel duet between Natasha and a television screen of herself singing. Once the spell was broken, the audience happily shuffled out into the night having seen something rather special.