The First Album "Daughters" Delves Into Grief and Style
In the song "Miss America", audiences find themselves inside a hotel room close to JFK airport, where the musician receives a heartbreaking news that her dad has illness diagnosis. This UK-raised artist was touring America on her initial visit, playing alongside group Kero Kero Bonito, when suddenly grief casts a shadow, coloring all in grey. Faltering piano and soft orchestration underscore dark dispatches emanating from the tour van: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."
Her gentle singing are delivered with a deadpan style, yet this record's tension arises from the sharp penmanship—blending stories, folksy sayings, and blunt personal notes—along with surprising rich textures. Few songs recently showcase stronger storytelling flair compared to "Shelly", a piece that depicts the killing of an animal and spirals toward a petrol-laden reckoning, reminiscent of literary works lit by flickers of warped cello. Anxious, subdued verses with resonating, strummed strings move into expansive choruses, with Walton's vocals electronically altered to become a presence all-knowing and sinister.
Listeners may previously be familiar with the artist as an electronic producer, DJ, and contributor to bands like Caroline. Daughters' musical twists reflect her varied career. The opener "Sometimes" erupts in flourish, like an ensemble caught unawares, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the BPM via an intense, beautiful, repeating percussion. Dense walls of sound, skillfully mixed by a long-term partner, seem both gnarly and spiritual, and Walton's morbid, enchanted thoughts culminate on highlight "Lambs", a song that briefly transforms into a swirling dance. "May your life never end in death," Walton pleads, exuding poignant dark comedy.
