bat for lashes
With one of the coolest names around and an equally original voice, Bat for Lashes is carving out a genre all of her own. Her 2006 debut, 'Fur and Gold', already earned her comparisons with Kate Bush and Tori Amos, while her new album, 'Two Suns', further explores her private universe of glittery dreams and haunted ghosts.
In between she also delivered one of the best covers of The Cure in years - her rendition of 'A Forest' (mp3) being, if possible, even more morosely spooky than the original.
But just when it all starts to get a bit too ethereal and twirly, there's her new single, 'Daniel'. In what must be the sleeve of the year, she can be seen wearing another of her '80s pop culture inspirations proudly on her back... (Yes, 'The Karate Kid''s name was Daniel.)
See also the video for 'Daniel', as well as her endearing 'Donnie Darko'-esque video for 'What's a Girl To Do'.