BAT FOR LASHES

After earning Mercury Prize nominations for each of her previous albums, Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes, remains broody and beguiled on her self-produced third album. On this cohesive collection, she spins languid arrangements of gentle electronics and channels the ’80s heyday of Kate Bush—to the extent that she even mentions running up hills. Khan’s aptitude for subtle yet striking rhythm is particularly evident in her increased use of programmed drums. She’s always highlighted her voice, but on this effort, she emphasizes her high notes in bold, operatic fashion. She rarely uses backing vocals, and when she does, she enlists male singers to contrast and heighten the effects of her dizzying soprano. It’s that soprano that ties lead single “Laura,” which strays from the electronic sound, to the rest of the album. With drama and heartbreak as interwoven as its French horns, the piano ballad conveys all of the emotion of Khan’s fraught landscape. –Amanda Farah