So far this year, the most prominent indie rock is decidedly European. The French alternative band Phoenix scored a slot on Saturday Night Live last month, and Sweden's Peter, Bjorn and John have been in heavy rotation on college radio with their new album, Living Thing.
And online at Pitchfork, the Brighton, England-based songwriter Natasha Khan, who performs as Bat for Lashes, is currently holding on to two of the website's 19 "best new tracks." Khan, 29, is of Pakistani descent and brings a blast of internationalism to indie rock that transcends Europe.
Mystic rock is at the core of her release Two Suns. On "Glass," Khan's airy and solemn vocal style meets tribal drumming and daunting bass lines. The track is typical of the dark vibe that pervades the disc.
But too often, the album lacks originality. The hit single "Daniel" sounds like a knockoff of the Cure's famous bass-heavy song "A Forest."
Two Suns isn't as hot as the hype after all.
