The shadow of Kate Bush looms large over any female 'artist.' It seems obligatory to mention that BFL are, or in fact is, Natasha Kahn, none the less with the body of work she's produced so far she could call herself chocolate fudge cake and come out a winner. That said Two Suns is not quite as sharp as her first effort, the Mercury Prize nominated Fur and Gold.
She has however wisely re-enlisted David Kosten; one of the few British producers who can construct a 'classic' album (although how long that remains vital in the digital age is anyone's guess). Even so, on 'Glass', he stretches her too thinly and her piercing shrieks during the chorus mark an intense listen for wilting ears. Much more palpable (and of similar musical terrain to F+G) is the diligently dramatic and wonderfully whimsical piano ballad, 'Moon and Moon'.
'Daniel', seemingly an ode to the Karate Kid, sounds like a 1980's lost classic but instead becomes a bonafide noughties one with its sugar coated gloom and Asian strings.
'Pearl's Dream' (just out as single number two, coincidentally) resides not a million miles from Prince; drum machines, multi layered backing vox and neat synth lines make it a definite highlight and her sexiest outing yet. Fantasists of Kahn's beauty will be happy or further frustrated with lyrics like 'there's a place I must go, it's not a place I've seen but I'll get there in a blue dream' and one wonders what she's hinting at with 'had a big machine, riding your shoulders' hmmmm...
Elsewhere it's easy to see why Radiohead took a shine to her; 'Two Planets's poly-rhythmic reverberations collide into a hypnotic groove painted in monochromatic watercolour.
'Sleep Alone' occupies a place similar to 'Trophies' on F+G and speaking of the first album 'The Big Sleep' is an equal endgame to 'I Saw a Light' with Scott Walker's quasi-operatic tones nicely marrying Kahn's desolate refrain of 'How can it be the last show?' Its empty theatre vibe speaking through distorted piano and a static pulse that brings things to a close. When she sings 'goodbye my dears,' her voice rising into falsetto for 'and into the big sleep' it is near tear inducing.
Spellbinding stuff that bodes well for her third; see albums of the year 2012. For now, rotate Two Suns on disc tray or itunes and hit play!
She has however wisely re-enlisted David Kosten; one of the few British producers who can construct a 'classic' album (although how long that remains vital in the digital age is anyone's guess). Even so, on 'Glass', he stretches her too thinly and her piercing shrieks during the chorus mark an intense listen for wilting ears. Much more palpable (and of similar musical terrain to F+G) is the diligently dramatic and wonderfully whimsical piano ballad, 'Moon and Moon'.
'Daniel', seemingly an ode to the Karate Kid, sounds like a 1980's lost classic but instead becomes a bonafide noughties one with its sugar coated gloom and Asian strings.
'Pearl's Dream' (just out as single number two, coincidentally) resides not a million miles from Prince; drum machines, multi layered backing vox and neat synth lines make it a definite highlight and her sexiest outing yet. Fantasists of Kahn's beauty will be happy or further frustrated with lyrics like 'there's a place I must go, it's not a place I've seen but I'll get there in a blue dream' and one wonders what she's hinting at with 'had a big machine, riding your shoulders' hmmmm...
Elsewhere it's easy to see why Radiohead took a shine to her; 'Two Planets's poly-rhythmic reverberations collide into a hypnotic groove painted in monochromatic watercolour.
'Sleep Alone' occupies a place similar to 'Trophies' on F+G and speaking of the first album 'The Big Sleep' is an equal endgame to 'I Saw a Light' with Scott Walker's quasi-operatic tones nicely marrying Kahn's desolate refrain of 'How can it be the last show?' Its empty theatre vibe speaking through distorted piano and a static pulse that brings things to a close. When she sings 'goodbye my dears,' her voice rising into falsetto for 'and into the big sleep' it is near tear inducing.
Spellbinding stuff that bodes well for her third; see albums of the year 2012. For now, rotate Two Suns on disc tray or itunes and hit play!