The Bride

孤独の花嫁が辿る悲劇の行く末は―― 聖女のような声とアート性の高い作品で高い評価を集めてきたバット・フォー・ラッシーズ、約4年振りの新作は映画化されることも視野に入れた、音楽的にも視覚的にも映像的な野心作『THE BRIDE』。

Rolling Stone - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "'Honeymooning Alone' begins with a stark, syncopated bass highlighted with shimmering harp as she sings about how lost she feels." Spin - "Throughout, Khan's voice takes center stage....She lets it slide seductively around woozy guitars, setting the stage like it's a spaghetti Western on 'Honeymooning Alone,' then again over throbbing bass and synths on 'Sunday Love'..." Uncut - "The record's standout is 'Close Encounters', a surreal folk song about a metaphysical interaction comprising just ghostly strings and Khan's reaching vocals." Mojo (Publisher) (p.91) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "There is a single-minded intensity to the writing and the production which makes THE BRIDE a very strong proposition indeed." NME (Magazine) - "Khan opens up this imaginary world with her voice, vaulting tragically high or turning feather-light for the album's serene resolution....Khan could probably take you anywhere and you'd still be enthralled." Clash (Magazine) - "THE BRIDE feels like a culmination of Natasha's many idiosyncrasies, blending decadent sexuality with heartrending emotion. Turns out this version is the most compelling version of Bat For Lashes to date."

トーイとのコラボも話題になったUKの女性シンガー・ソングライターによる4作目は、〈婚約者を交通事故で亡くした花嫁〉を描いたコンセプト盤だ。幸せムードいっぱいの冒頭3曲を経て、車の衝突音が鳴り響くと空気が一変。ダークサイドへ堕ちかけた主人公がふたたび愛を取り戻すまでの物語が、電子音や美しいストリングス/ピアノで彩られていく。アートワークやPVと合わせて、映画のような世界観に浸ってほしい。
bounce (C)上野功平