Bat For Lashes, Picture House, Edinburgh

The first thing that is clear before Natasha Khan takes to the stage in the opulently grand environs of Edinburgh’s Picture House is the mightily impressive stage set up. Banks of keyboards and assorted instruments line up behind some props that seem to appropriate a mountainous landscape. It is an ode to theatricality that is seemingly at odds with the stark image on the cover of the excellent third Bat For Lashes album ‘The Haunted Man’. Ultimately, over the course of the next hour any adornments are rendered irrelevant by her elegantly commanding stage presence.

Tonight is only the second night of the tour to promote the album and a few early tour nerves are evident, notably when Khan inadvertently strikes up the intro to the wrong song. These early flutters soon give way to a remarkably impressive and assured performance. The new material fits in in perfectly with the old in a carefully measured and expertly paced set. Khan, as always is a compelling figure. Clad in a simple black gown she resembles a kind of classic movie star. Over the years, she has developed into a joyously expressive performer. She never looks like she is trying to hard.

Highlights from the new album include grandstanding opener ‘Lillies’ and the peerless sashaying pop of single ‘All Your Gold’. Perhaps the most special moment of many is a stunning rendition of ‘Laura’. You can hear a pin drop amongst the reverent crowd as her poised and stirring voice delivers the album’s rousing emotional centre piece.

A lot of the new material is given a bigger and bolder sound by her four-piece band. ‘A Wall’ is transformed into an electro pop banger giving the final part of the show the atmosphere of a nightclub party. Khan instigates the dance floor vibe by asking them, in an endearing coy way: “Are you ready for a bit of a dance?” The answer is most obviously yes. She then rewards the crowd with a staggeringly good run through of ‘Daniel’ and ‘Pearls Dream’ while providing that classic trick of leaving them wanting more.

You get the distinct sense from tonight’s performance and the new album that there is a real groundswell of warmth and love building for Bat For Lashes that is long overdue. Surely, bigger stages beckon in the future.