Bat For Lashes: Laura

This is easily the most beautiful thing you will hear all week.

Bat For Lashes - Laura


Natasha, who is the Bat in Bat For Lashes, premiered the song on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show last night. He didn't press her on the mournful song's meaning, which seems to be a lament for a friend - "You're the train that crashed my heart / You're the glitter in the dark". Given the date, I couldn't help thinking of Amy Winehouse, but that's probably unfounded.

Here's how she described the song to Zane:

It's quite emotionally direct and very minimal. I was listening to The Carpenters and Neil Diamond and Elton John – quite 70s piano ballads, when thinking about that song. It's just finding those hooks and simple chord progression.

Laura is the most minimal, direct, sad song on the record. Apart from that, there's a lot more beat programming, a lot more drum machines, a lot more synths. Compared to the last two records, it's probably a lot more direct, a lot more dancey and a more consistent balance between the lighter and darker songs.

Bat For Lashes' third album, The Haunted Man, comes out in October - that's the artwork below. You can download Laura today if you pre-order the album on iTunes.

BAT FOR LASHES - LAURA
You say that they've all left you behind
Your heart broken, a part of you died
Drape your arms around me and softly say
Can we dance upon the tables again?

When you smile is so wide
And your heels are so high
You can't cry
Get your glad rags on
And let's sing along
To that lonely song

You're the train that crashed my heart
You're the glitter in the dark
Ooh-oh, Laura, you're more than a superstar
And in this horror show
I've got to tell you so
Ooh-oh, Laura, you’re more than a superstar

You say that you're stuck in a pale blue dream
And your tears feel hard on my bed sheets
Drape your arms around me and softly say
Can we dance upon the tables again?

Your smile is so wide
And your heels are so high
You can't cry
Put your glad rags on
And let's sing along
To that lonely song

You're the train that crashed my heart
You're the glitter in the dark
Ooh-oh, Laura, you’re more than a superstar
You'll be famous for longer than them
Your name is tattooed on every boy's skin
Ooh-oh, Laura, you’re more than a superstar

You're the train that crashed my heart
You're the glitter in the dark
Ooh-oh, Laura, you’re more than a superstar
And in this old horror show
I've got to let you know
Ooh-oh, Laura, you're more than a superstar
You're more than a superstar

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