The First Record "Daughters" Delves Into Grief and Elegance
In this track "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a hotel room near JFK airfield, as Jennifer Walton receives a devastating update of her father's cancer diagnosis. This UK-raised performer was traveling the US on her initial visit, playing alongside group Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly sadness casts a shadow, tinging everything with melancholy. Faltering piano and soft strings accompany gothic reports emanating from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."
Her gentle vocals come across in a deadpan manner, while the record's intensity stems from her sharp penmanship—mixing stories, traditional phrases, and direct diary entries—along with surprising rich textures. Few tracks recently possess more potent storytelling flair compared to "Shelly", a piece that depicts the killing of a deer and spirals into a fuel-soaked confrontation, reminiscent of literary works illuminated with glimpses of distorted cello. Anxious, quiet verses featuring resonating, plucked strings transition to grand refrains, and her voice electronically altered to become something omniscient and menacing.
Listeners might already know Walton from her work as a music creator, DJ, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. The album's sonic turns draw on her diverse background. The opener "Sometimes" erupts with flourish, like an ensemble taken unawares, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the BPM via an intense, beautiful, repeating percussion. Thick walls of sound, skillfully mixed with a longtime partner, seem both rough and spiritual, while her dark, enchanted thinking peak in standout "Lambs", which momentarily becomes a swirling dance. "May your life never end in death," Walton bargains, with heart-aching gallows humor.
