The Debut Record "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Elegance
In this song "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a lodging near JFK airport, as Jennifer Walton receives a heartbreaking news of her father's cancer diagnosis. The UK-raised artist had been traveling the US on her initial visit, playing with indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when abruptly sadness takes over, coloring all in grey. Faltering piano and hushed orchestration underscore gothic reports emanating from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's gentle singing come across with a deadpan style, while the album's intensity arises from her keen penmanship—blending stories, folksy sayings, and blunt diary entries—coupled with unexpected maximalism. Not many songs recently showcase more potent novelistic flair compared to "Shelly", a piece that depicts the death of an animal and spirals into a fuel-soaked confrontation, evoking written works lit with glimpses of warped cello. Tense, quiet sections featuring resonating, strummed strings transition to expansive choruses, with Walton's voice electronically altered into something omniscient and menacing.
Audiences may previously be familiar with Walton from her work as an electronic producer, DJ, and member in groups such as Caroline. The album's sonic turns draw on this diverse career. The first track "Sometimes" bursts in fanfare, as if an ensemble caught unawares, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the BPM via a punishing, stunning, looping percussion. Thick walls of sound, expertly produced by a longtime partner, seem at once rough and spiritual, and Walton's dark, magical thoughts peak on highlight "Lambs", which momentarily becomes a twirling jig. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," she bargains, exuding poignant gallows humor.
