Jennifer Walton's First Album "Daughters" Delves Into Grief and Elegance
Within this song "Miss America", audiences find themselves inside a lodging near JFK airfield, as the musician receives the devastating news of her father's illness discovery. This Sunderland-born artist was touring America for the first time, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly sadness casts a shadow, tinging all with melancholy. Unsteady keys and hushed strings underscore gothic dispatches from the road: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's gentle vocals are delivered in a flat manner, while the record's tension stems from the keen penmanship—blending stories, folksy sayings, and blunt diary entries—along with unexpected rich textures. Not many tracks recently showcase stronger storytelling flair compared to "Shelly", a piece that depicts the death of a deer and descends toward a fuel-soaked confrontation, evoking written pieces illuminated by glimpses of warped strings. Anxious, quiet sections with echoing, plucked guitar transition to expansive refrains, and her voice electronically altered to become a presence all-knowing and menacing.
Listeners may previously know Walton from her work as a music creator, DJ, and contributor in groups like Caroline. The album's sonic turns reflect this diverse career. The opener "Sometimes" erupts with fanfare, as if an ensemble caught unawares, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the BPM via an intense, stunning, looping drum fill. Dense layers of audio, expertly produced by a long-term partner, seem at once rough and ethereal, and her morbid, magical thoughts culminate in highlight "Lambs", which briefly becomes a twirling jig. "May your life never end in death," Walton bargains, exuding poignant dark comedy.
