Chris DeLine

Past winners of the U.K.’s Mercury Prize include the Klaxons, Dizzee Rascal, and Badly Drawn Boy; this year Natasha Khan’s Bat for Lashes could very well be added to that list. This is the singer’s second nomination, following a 2007 nod for her debut, Fur and Gold. Her latest effort, Two Suns, has been heralded as one of the year’s best albums (in a year that is already rife with brilliant music), and its two singles, “Daniel” and “Pearl’s Dream,” offer a unique blend of ambient electronic tones under Khan’s angelic voice. Having expanded to a four-piece for the band’s live performances, Bat for Lashes have already performed on the Late Show with David Letterman and at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival, and will play at Chicago’s Lollapalooza. While the band are by no means on the brink of becoming a household name, they are on the brink of their most successful year to date, meaning that if and when Bat for Lashes return to the Twin Cities, it will likely be at a much higher ticket price and at a much larger venue. With Other Lives. All ages.

[This critics’ pick was originally published by City Pages.]