By Mackenzie Viera |Staff Writer|

English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Natasha Khan, also known as Bat For Lashes, has released her highly-anticipated third album The Haunted Man. 

After releasing her second album Two Suns back in 2009, Khan decided to take her time working on this album for three years. It’s clear that this new album was worth the wait.

Although Khan’s voice is reminiscent of many female artists, including Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Kimbra, Bjork, Annie Lennox and Siouxsie Sioux, she has a distinguished unique sound, especially on this album. Not only does this unique sound stem from her vocals, she also has the incredible talent to play piano, bass, guitar and the autoharp, which all take place in her music.

The Haunted Man is a bold and assertive love-themed album with romantic tracks such as “All Your Gold,” ”Laura” and “Marilyn.”

Starting with the first track “Lilies,” Khan takes us into a blissful beginning, introducing synths and her goosebump-giving voice. Until the rest of the beat drops, the first few seconds of the song gives listeners an 80s feel. Soon, it transitions into an uplifting track in which a “thunderbolt” hits you to remind you how beautiful life can be when you feel empty and low.

Touching isn’t it?

Following the first track is the addicting hit single that seemingly sounds like Gotye’s “Somebody That I Use to Know.” The story behind this song is something many of us can relate to: giving your all in a relationship that eventually ruptures and you’re left with nothing but you still catch yourself loving them.

The song, titled “All Your Gold,” starts with what seems to be tribal drums leading into the story of an old relationship affecting a new one.  In the second verse, the lies and broken promises from the previous relationship were reminded when she found a love note from her new partner wishing it was from the old one.

She keeps reminding herself that the current one is a “good man” but she can’t help herself from staying at a distance because she still loves her ex. However, she wants to give her new relationship a try but feels she has no “gold” left to offer.

The song “Laura” is about a female superstar that has a broken heart and tries to hide it behind “her smile and high heels.” Upon further reflection, this “Laura” chick sounds very much like Khan herself, being that she’s always witty and happy in her interviews – could she be talking about herself in disguise?

Overall, Khan worked hard on this album, creating an album we didn’t expect to be so personal. Nonetheless, this album is the “chick flick” of indie music, which clearly isn’t a bad thing. Taking her time to work hard on this album has definitely paid off.