Tuesday 12/09/06 Bat For Lashes @ The Spitz, London

Bat for Lashes arrive on stage in time to witness the sold old audience physically melting in the disco inferno that is the Spitz, which is why the event that unfolds infront of our weary eyes tonight are particularly spectacular. Miraculously keeping people from escaping downstairs to the bar for a cold pint, lead singer Natasha Khan casts her magic, wooing the crowd all glitter and headwear looking surreally like she could be Lily Allen’s half sister who grew up in a folk commune somewhere in the 70s…

The Brighton four-piece enter into 'I Saw A Light' transforming the audience from the sweat box hell in which they have found themselves, into a state of mind that belongs to walking down a dark street with only your ipod for company feeling profound and alone (and yes perhaps after several Gins and an argument with your significant after). Its music made for films designed to pull you in so deep with the kind of atmospheric soundtrack that makes your stomach winch with its haunting beauty. Which perhaps explains why Bat for Lashes’ influences often are listed as films such as The Virgin Suicides rather than other musicians. However references to Tori Amos and Bjork cannot be ignored, with sometimes a touch of Regina Speckter thrown in.

Bat for Lashes are creating music that invites you to fall in love with their complex presence - the fairy tale they lead you into is twisted and turned with their often dark and intricate lyrics. At points the whole of the band join in on backing vocals summering up the feeling they are performing some sort of ritual on stage, clapping their hands drawing you in with their sound of night time beauty.

Natasha Khan is keen on audience participation, asking for wannabe comedians in the building to step forward when things technically aren’t going swimmingly, and later pleading for anyone who may have brought a guitar lead along tonight to step forward. All this contributes to the feeling that Bat for Lashes have somehow been plucked from a bar nearby and ended up on stage by accident with luckily pleasant results. However it’s this unpretentious, charming effect that is infectious about the band, conflicting against their otherworldly sounding music.

After an unsatisfying short set which feels as if we have heard only five tracks at the most, the music stops, the magic is broken and the audience is grudgingly left to melt once more.