bat for lashes - the haunted man

Bats for Lashes

The Haunted Man
Parlophone;2012

3.5 out of 5

You can't judge an album by its cover, especially the art on little CD boxes. But it wouldn't be surprising if some people are buying "The Haunted Man" JUST for its cover. Naked except for a necklace, and a slender man (don't know if he's a band member) strategically draped over her shoulders, singer/songwriter Natasha Khan reveals herself as an arrestingly beautiful woman. And apparently strong, too -- as the man rests on her as though he were weightless. Could be Photoshop, but it looks real enough.

Fortunately, the music inside is equally arresting. While I can't say that any one song on Bat For Lashes' new album is better than "Daniel," or "Moon and Moon," from the previous album, overall it's a much better recording. Every track is good, and some tracks are great. Ms. Khan and her band have concocted a seductive blend of New Age / alt-rock tunes that whisk the listener to faraway lands and travels through time. "The Haunted Man" produces a visual experience as well as an aural one, with Natasha Khan's distinctive vocals always remaining the focal point throughout. Particularly evocative are "Horses Of The Sun," "Oh Yeah," "Laura," and "Deep Sea Diver."