The Debut Record "Daughters" Explores Sorrow and Elegance

Within this song "Miss America", listeners find themselves in a hotel room near JFK airport, where Jennifer Walton learns a devastating news of her father's illness discovery. The UK-raised artist had been traveling America on her initial visit, drumming alongside group Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly sadness casts a shadow, coloring everything in grey. Unsteady piano and hushed strings underscore dark reports from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."

Walton's gentle vocals are delivered in a flat style, yet this album's tension arises from her sharp penmanship—mixing fiction, folksy sayings, and direct diary entries—coupled with surprising maximalism. Few songs recently possess more potent novelistic flair compared to "Shelly", which depicts the death of a deer and spirals toward a fuel-soaked reckoning, reminiscent of written works lit with glimpses of distorted strings. Anxious, quiet verses with resonating, plucked guitar transition to expansive choruses, and her vocals electronically altered to become a presence omniscient and menacing.

Listeners may already be familiar with the artist from her work as a music creator, DJ, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. Daughters' musical twists reflect her diverse career. The first track "Sometimes" erupts with flourish, like an ensemble caught by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the tempo via an intense, stunning, looping percussion. Dense walls of sound, expertly produced by a longtime collaborator, feel at once rough and spiritual, and her dark, magical thoughts culminate on highlight "Lambs", which momentarily becomes a swirling dance. "May your life never end in death," she bargains, with poignant gallows humor.

Michael Mills
Michael Mills

A passionate urban planner and writer sharing insights on sustainable city living and modern lifestyle trends.