The First Album "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Style
In this song "Miss America", listeners are placed inside a hotel room near JFK airport, where the musician receives the devastating update of her father's illness diagnosis. The Sunderland-born artist was traveling America on her initial visit, drumming alongside group Kero Kero Bonito, and suddenly grief casts a shadow, tinging all in grey. Unsteady piano and hushed orchestration accompany gothic reports emanating from the road: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's gentle vocals are delivered with a deadpan manner, yet this record's tension arises from the keen penmanship—mixing stories, folksy sayings, and direct personal notes—coupled with unexpected rich textures. Few songs this year showcase stronger storytelling flair than "Shelly", which depicts the killing of an animal and spirals into a petrol-laden reckoning, reminiscent of literary works lit by glimpses of warped cello. Anxious, subdued verses with resonating, strummed guitar transition into expansive refrains, and her vocals electronically altered into something omniscient and menacing.
Audiences may previously be familiar with the artist as a music creator, DJ, and member to bands such as Caroline. Daughters' sonic turns reflect her varied career. The first track "Sometimes" erupts with flourish, like a string band 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 collaborator, feel at once gnarly and ethereal, and Walton's dark, magical thoughts peak in standout "Lambs", which momentarily transforms into a swirling dance. "May your life never end in death," Walton bargains, exuding heart-aching dark comedy.
