The First Record "Daughters" Delves Into Grief and Elegance
In this track "Miss America", listeners find themselves inside a lodging close to JFK airfield, as Jennifer Walton learns a devastating update of her father's cancer discovery. This UK-raised artist was traveling the US on her initial visit, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when suddenly sadness casts a shadow, tinging everything with melancholy. Unsteady piano and hushed orchestration accompany gothic dispatches from the tour van: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."
Her gentle singing are delivered in a deadpan style, yet the record's tension arises from the sharp writing—mixing fiction, traditional phrases, and direct diary entries—along with surprising rich textures. Not many tracks this year showcase more potent storytelling flair than "Shelly", a piece that describes the death of an animal and descends into a petrol-laden confrontation, reminiscent of literary pieces illuminated with glimpses of warped cello. Tense, subdued sections featuring echoing, strummed strings transition into expansive refrains, and her vocals electronically altered to become a presence omniscient and sinister.
Listeners might already know the artist as a music creator, DJ, and contributor in groups like Caroline. The album's musical twists reflect her varied career. The first track "Sometimes" erupts in flourish, as if a string band taken unawares, while "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the tempo via an intense, stunning, looping percussion. Thick layers of audio, skillfully produced with a long-term partner, feel at once gnarly and spiritual, while her dark, magical thoughts culminate on standout "Lambs", a song that momentarily becomes a swirling dance. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," Walton pleads, exuding heart-aching dark comedy.
