“The Dream of Delphi” by Bat for Lashes

For nearly two decades, Natasha Khan — aka, Bat for Lashes — has released album after acclaimed album of art pop in the vein of Kate Bush and Björk. Her latest album is titled The Dream of Delphi, and according to Khan’s announcement, it was deeply influenced by the birth of her first child in 2020:

It’s about what happens when you’re stretched physically, mentally, even vaginally! I think it’s just humbled me, becoming a mother. It’s made me feel more vulnerable than I’ve ever felt before. But I feel more human, more embodied. I can’t escape life by making beautiful things as much as I did. But there’s sort of a beauty to my mortality now.

The title track is a showcase for Khan’s vocals, which are eventually joined by crunchy beats, sweeping strings, natural sounds, and even the chatter of a young child. It’s the sort of beguiling music that we’ve all come to expect and love from Bat for Lashes.

The Dream of Delphi will be released by Mercury KX on May 31, 2024.