Altsounds - Bat For Lashes, Manchester 14th Oct 2009 [Live]

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Bat For Lashes, Manchester 14th Oct 2009 [Live]

Let's face it, you're not going to get an unbiased opinion out of me, and why should you? I think I've described myself before as one of the Bat-Faithful, but I guess that's how it is with music anyway. I'm really not that likely to go and listen to bands that I don't like, or at least think I'll like in some way. So declaration up front, this was the second time I'd seen them in a week and the fifth time in a year and a half.

My initiation to the live Bat for Lashes experience was with a previous, interim incarnation of the band, when they were warming up for the dates supporting Radiohead. In some ways, as powerful as this new set up is, I slightly regret the passing of the original band. Back then, it seemed that they swapped round instruments much more, Natasha included, and seemed somehow a cooperative. We all move on though, and the present set up is mighty mighty powerful. I actually wonder how long they'll be able to keep the present line-up together given that Charlotte Hatherley has her new excellent solo material out and drummer Sarah Jones must surely be soon needed back in her full time band New Young Pony Club, who seem to be gearing up for more activity. This run of dates goes to early November, so I'll watch with interest for the next iteration

Was it a Bat-faithful crowd? It was certainly nothing like in the kooky early days of 'Horse and I' when there were head-dresses a-go-go. Yes there were people with paint on their eyes, but you can go and see anything now and half the audience will have horizontal stripes on their cheeks. So the visual tribal markings were less prominent, but I think they were still the faithful. In Liverpool on the Saturday, they'd been downright rowdy, even Natasha commenting on this in her polite and charming way, perhaps hiding some frustration. The Manchester crowd were almost as noisy and disruptive. Some charming fellow behind me was bellowing "My name's (insert generic northern bloke name) and I'm obnoxious, I am." Didn't need to be a detective to work that one out. Other shouting though, in amongst very random "Shizzle shizzle mother f**ker" included impassioned cries of "I went to Chicago. I went for you Natasha." The inevitable regular calls of "I Love You" earned a polite "Thank You" surely the ultimate put-down. But pur-leaze, this isn't a football crowd.

I have some internal debate - is it a failing of a band that they don't command their audience into respectful silence? I really don't think so in this case, despite some contrary opinions. Indeed, with Bat For Lashes, I don't consider that they necessarily set out to engage with the audience in the way that Iggy Pop might. The audience are entranced, but more in a way that the band get on with their business, but open a glass fourth wall of the stage to the onlookers, allowing us to look in. It's not private, but it is intense and it's up to us whether we partake of their art. I know it's not them being stand-off-ish - I met Natasha last year outside a gig and that's not the sort of people they are. Maybe they are just stuck somewhere between rock gig and theatre, and that's no bad place to be.

A different stage set now, not set up like it used to be as some Parisian boudoir with tapestries, it's become much more up to date. Alongside some high-tech lighting there were simple illuminated pictures of Joshua trees, which makes perfect sense in the context of the journey taken in the making of the album. I no longer have the feeling that they are all going to arrive in style on flying gryphons, although the material is all still going in that direction. The magic more sung about than acted out. Bat For Lashes set out to achieve a lot on stage - very careful lighting, never seen a lighting tech checking out the planes and angles before. The band really are tremendous, as it should be given the dream team Natasha has assembled.

The material is always going to be eclectic, never mainstream, a point poignantly made by the cover of Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody' included on the special edition of the "Two Suns" album. Their most mainstream pop song to date is 'Daniel,' and it really is strong enough to be included on the album 3 times. It only got played once tonight unlike a few months ago when it was getting two airings a night in the live set.

Some of the other material, I'm thinking of 'Two Planets' here - demands effort on behalf of the listener, it sure ain't no 3 minute pop song. Persevere though and it's all worthwhile. 'Siren Song' is such a lovely tale of devotion and giving, that is until her hidden twin personality Pearl comes bounding in to the Siren's call, slashing hearts along the way. Just as it was going so lovingly.

Was it technical perfection on stage? I've heard that strange 'criticism' both here and before. For me it just reflects how much is in the CD, that the record is actually music being played rather than a lot of computer artifice if that makes sense. Augmenting the band with two violins certainly filled that out tonight, adding very noticeably.

When it looked for a nano-second like I might get to interview Miss Khan, I had several suggestions for questions from friends. Sadly every single one of these was "Ask her if she'll marry me." That's the kind of reaction she engenders. Despite another heckler suggesting this, she is not channelling Kate Bush, but possesses the same sort of ability to engender affection as dear old Kate. The set was 15 songs, all from the two albums, and was a reminder of what strength in depth those two records have.

First of the 3 song encore, 'The Big Sleep,' had Natasha replacing the album Scott Walker duet to instead accompany herself via a ghostly rendition of alter ego Pearl, reappearing to flicker from a large TV screen wheeled on stage like something your college lecturer might have done. Impressive, and followed by what was for me the song of the night 'Wilderness.' This is a song that had previously been overshadowed for me by more immediate pleasures, but here and now, the inward looking intensity and concentration encapsulated the experience, Natasha again inviting us to consider her private world before hitting it out into crowd pleasing finale 'Priscilla.'

And when the battle was done, I was promised my Sun.