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"The Dream Of Delphi" is a song performed by Bat For Lashes. It serves as the first track on Bat For Lashes' sixth studio album, The Dream Of Delphi. It was released as the first official single off the album on February 22, 2024.
Background[]
The song was debuted live on June 15, 2023 at Christine and the Queens' Meltdown festival and performed throughout Khan's 2023 shows, along with "At Your Feet" and "Letter To My Daughter."
The extended strings version is how Natasha originally wrote the song. For the album and single version, she commissioned Ben Cristophers to program beats, bass and soundscapes for the ending. She said she included an early recording of her daughter Delphi saying "mummy, mummy."[1]
"It is how I originally wrote this song, slowly building, like a hymn or incantation, coming in over 6 minutes with amazing strings from Jake Falby, harp by Mary Lattimore and flutes and horns by Logan Hone, who all contributed to developing this sumptuous sonic world… I am so excited to share this original piece with you, which will also feature on the forthcoming album. For the shorter single version (which you have all already heard) I commissioned Ben Christophers to programme beats, bass and soundscapes for the ending, as I wanted a crescendo, a final burst of rhythm to take it to another place sonically. If you listen carefully you can hear some early recordings of my daughter Delphi saying “mummy, mummy” at the end. Coupled with the sound of a baby’s heartbeat from the womb and birdsong. Ben and I discussed the ending and how it could hopefully convey the power of transformation, the wonder of new life and the dawn of a whole new world for me."[1]
Music and composition[]
Khan explained the song on its release day on Pitchfork:
"This is the manifesto of the album. It’s like a spell being cast. It’s the conjuring, the manifestation, the drawing-down of Delphi from the ether. This is me calling on her soul. It’s about going up into the stars and down into the underworld simultaneously, how celestials and deep guttural sounds can come together, how that reflects the journey I went on. It’s about what happens when you’re stretched physically, mentally, even vaginally! I think it’s just humbled me, too, 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."[2]
Critical reception[]
Lyrics[]
Breezes, breezes on your fingers
Touching thin air, playing with angels
Breathing a new transmission, falling from the sky
Deeper, my love is soaring, soaring so very high
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
Soaring, soaring past cliffs of vines
Milk and, milk and opal light
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
Breezes, breezes on your fingers
Touching thin air, playing with angels
Breathing a new transmission, falling from the sky
Deeper, my love is soaring, soaring so very high
Breaking in your fingers
Dancing upon your smile
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
Soaring, soaring past cliffs of white
Milk and, milk and opal light
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
Breezes, breezes on your fingers
Touching thin air
Playing, playing with the angels
Breathing a new transmission, falling from the sky
Deeper, deeper, my love is soaring, soaring so very high
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
The dream of Delphi on my mind
Music video[]
| Music Video | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual | Information | |||
 Bat For Lashes - The Dream of Delphi (Official Video) |
Released | February 22, 2024 | ||
| Lenght | 05:26 | |||
| Director | Freddie Leyden Natasha Khan | |||
| Producer | Suzan Mustafa | |||
| Filmed | Unknown, 2024 | |||
| Location | United Kingdom | |||
Behind The Scenes[]
Audio[]
YouTube[]
Official versions[]
- Album version — 04:42
- Bonus Extended Strings Version — 06:02
Credits[]
Personnel
- Natasha Khan — Associated Performer, Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Bass Programming, Producer
- Mary Lattimore — Associated Performer, Harp
- Jake Falby — Associated Performer, Strings, String Arranger, Producer, Additional Producer
- Logan Hone— Associated Performer, Flute
- TJ Allen — Associated Performer, Timpani, Drum Programming, Studio Personnel, Mixer
- Ben Christophers — Associated Performer, Rhythm Programming
- Tyler Karmen — Producer, Additional Producer, Studio Personnel, Engineer
- Guy Davie — Studio Personnel, Mastering Engineer
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Thank you so much to everyone sharing and supporting the first single from my forthcoming record The Dream of Delphi!". 27 February 2024. Instagram.
- ↑ "Bat for Lashes Returns With New Album The Dream of Delphi, Shares Song and Video: Watch". 22 February 2024. Pitchfork.