The Debut Record "Daughters" Explores Grief and Elegance
Within the song "Miss America", listeners are placed inside a lodging close to JFK airfield, as Jennifer Walton receives the devastating news that her dad has illness discovery. This Sunderland-born artist was touring America on her initial visit, drumming alongside group Kero Kero Bonito, when suddenly sadness takes over, tinging everything in grey. Faltering piano and hushed strings underscore dark reports emanating from the road: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's soft vocals come across in a flat style, yet this record's intensity arises from the sharp writing—blending stories, traditional phrases, and direct diary entries—along with unexpected maximalism. Few tracks recently possess more potent storytelling flair compared to "Shelly", which describes the death of an animal and descends into a fuel-soaked confrontation, reminiscent of literary works lit with flickers of distorted cello. Anxious, subdued sections featuring echoing, strummed guitar transition to expansive choruses, and Walton's vocals electronically altered into a presence all-knowing and sinister.
Audiences might previously know Walton from her work as an electronic producer, disc jockey, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. The album's musical twists reflect this varied background. The opener "Sometimes" erupts in flourish, as if a string band taken by surprise, while "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the tempo via a punishing, beautiful, repeating drum fill. Dense layers of audio, skillfully produced by a long-term partner, feel at once gnarly and spiritual, and Walton's dark, magical thoughts peak on highlight "Lambs", which momentarily transforms into a twirling jig. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," she pleads, with poignant dark comedy.