The Barbican is an otherworldly space. The poured, roughly hewn concrete. Balconies overflowing with greenery. Nature reclaiming brutalism. It seems like a city within The City. We never seem to recall which came first. It’s a dreamworld. Quite a fitting space for self-proclaimed mother witch Natasha Kahn AKA Bat For Lashes to bring her cauldron of mystical pop, haunting balladry and (as in the show notes) devotional love songs to a devoted audience.
With bandmates Laura Groves and Charlotte Hatherley, Natasha takes to the stage with power and grace, and after opening with At Your Feet, taken from her new album The Dream of Delphi the statement of intent has been made. The dream world of the Barbican is fully integrated into the dream worlds of Kahn’s strange and expansive imagination. Lost Girls anthem The Hunger follows, and we are bathed in lurid red light, our hearts pounding along to the huge organ motif. It’s compelling, captivating and vivid – putting us right into the heart of the vampiric desire of the song.
