Haunting is not an adjective that I would usually use to describe Lana Del Rey’s songs, however her latest single ‘White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter’ is nothing less than chillingly beautiful. She gives us a taste, a dose, of a seductive, bewitching folk song that leaves us craving more in anticipation for her next upcoming album, Stove. Del Rey has resurrected her witchy and moody vocals that reminds an old listener all too well of her previous status, Lizzy Grant. 

The single is a perfect balance between whimsy, heard through the orchestral flutes, giving a fairytale-esque theme to the song, and Del Rey’s sullen, dark, almost bird-like voice, proving the song to be suitable for the exit of winter and coming of summer. The romantic, fantastical opening of the eerie string flourish immediately snatches the listener away to a whimsically gothic place, one feels as if we are on a carousel in the summer dusk, but the funfair is abandoned and the dolls are speaking. 

While Lana has made clear her new production vibe, her lyrics are quite strange. At first I felt unsure about her “whoopsie daisy” and “yoo-hoo” sounds. However, upon further listening their intentions in the song become clear as they add to the haunted-magical vibe. The terms themselves remind the listener of words a child may use. Lana’s choice to whisper them in an echoing, whistle-like voice extends this haunted fairytale atmosphere. This is a familiar feeling to old listeners, echoing back to Del Rey’s Lizzy Grant era, particularly resonating with her unreleased, ‘Trash Magic’, a similar creepily beautiful and seductive melody. 

This single is a stark contrast to anything that we have had from Lana recently, leaving us despairingly wanting more. While her change in sensations, seen through the darkness of this song, from her last album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, may be met with criticism, I am obsessed with it. While it may not be a belter to sing along to on a night out, this does not diminish it. It is rather a song to listen to in the shower late at night, or perhaps any gothic situation you may find yourself in. I love a switch up in vibe, especially when done well (like Lana), and cannot wait to hear if the album lives up to my high praise of this tune. 

7/10

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