Few artists give us chills the way Natasha Khan does, so the release of a new Bat For Lashes video is a bloody big deal here at Track Record HQ. “Laura,” the lead single for Khan’s upcoming third album, The Haunted Man, is a comparatively stripped down piano ballad, enhanced by warm brass and the singer’s rich, earthy voice. Who is Laura? The aged drag queen in the video? Maybe. Another aspect of Khan’s persona, like Two Suns’s Pearl? Possibly. Another romantic heroine like “Prescilla” or “Sarah?” Could be.
Like this spare, contemplative song, The Haunted Man’s recently released cover image—a stark black and white nude shot by out photographer Ryan McGuinley—seems to indicate that Khan is moving away from the cold, controlled chaos of Two Suns on this album. We could be in for a quieter, lonelier Bat For Lashes.
Never one for simple soundscapes, Diamond Rings gives us a new single, “I’m Just Me,” that’s possibly his most dance floor-friendly track to date. Having cut his teeth on 2010’s Special Affections, John O seems to be even more comfortable with the electro medium this time around, a fact that’s even reflected in his lyrics: “Now I’m growing older/I’m getting bolder/Comfortable in my own skin.” Of course, we have to wonder if that’s also a reference to his gender-bending image. We haven’t been able to get great intel on which team the androgynous performer plays for, and judging from this song he’s not telling any time soon: “I’m no son or daughter / I’m just me,” he sings, channeling everyone Grace Jones to Klaus Nomi. Could “I’m Just Me” be a deliberate response to questions about O’s sexuality? If so, it’s a statement as confident and defiant as his music.
“Feelz Good (4-EVR)” is a bit darker than Ssion’s usual neo-disco tinged sound, but that’s by no means a bad thing. The track is a simmering slow burn that erupts into an explosive chorus. The video finds singer Cody Critcheloe giving come-hither eyes as he performs against chaotic, grainy background imagery. There’s also a cameo by Brooklyn ghetto-tech masters House of Ladosha. “Feelz Good” is the latest video from Ssion’s upcoming album, Bent, due in September. Critcheloe and co. have recorded videos for every song on the album, so expect to see a lot more from this white-hot band in the next few months.
