Jennifer Walton's Debut Album "Daughters" Explores Sorrow and Style

In this track "Miss America", listeners are placed inside a lodging close to JFK airport, as the musician learns a devastating update of her father's cancer discovery. This UK-raised artist was touring the US for the first time, drumming with group Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly sadness takes over, coloring all in grey. Faltering keys and soft orchestration underscore gothic reports emanating from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."

Walton's gentle vocals come across in a deadpan manner, yet this album's intensity arises from the keen writing—mixing stories, folksy sayings, and direct personal notes—coupled with unexpected rich textures. Not many tracks recently showcase more potent novelistic flair compared to "Shelly", a piece that describes the death of an animal and descends into a fuel-soaked confrontation, reminiscent of written pieces lit with flickers of warped strings. Tense, subdued sections featuring resonating, strummed strings transition into expansive choruses, and her vocals digitally manipulated to become something all-knowing and menacing.

Audiences might previously be familiar with Walton from her work as an electronic producer, disc jockey, and contributor in groups like Caroline. The album's musical twists draw on this diverse career. The first track "Sometimes" bursts in fanfare, as if an ensemble caught by surprise, while "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the tempo with an intense, stunning, repeating percussion. Dense walls of sound, expertly produced by a longtime partner, seem at once gnarly and ethereal, and Walton's dark, enchanted thoughts culminate in standout "Lambs", a song that briefly becomes a twirling dance. "May your life never end in death," she pleads, with heart-aching gallows humor.

Lisa Hill
Lisa Hill

A passionate gamer and tech writer with over a decade of experience in the industry, sharing insights and reviews.