The First Record "Daughters" Delves Into Grief and Elegance
Within the song "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a lodging near JFK airport, as the musician receives a devastating update of her father's cancer diagnosis. The Sunderland-born artist had been traveling America on her initial visit, drumming with indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when abruptly sadness takes over, tinging everything with melancholy. Unsteady piano and soft orchestration accompany dark dispatches emanating from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's gentle singing are delivered with a flat manner, yet the album's tension arises from her keen writing—mixing fiction, traditional phrases, and direct diary entries—coupled with surprising maximalism. Not many tracks recently showcase more potent storytelling style compared to "Shelly", a piece that depicts the killing of an animal and spirals toward a fuel-soaked reckoning, reminiscent of literary works lit by flickers of warped cello. Tense, subdued verses featuring echoing, strummed strings move into expansive refrains, and her vocals digitally manipulated into a presence all-knowing and sinister.
Listeners might already be familiar with the artist from her work as a music creator, disc jockey, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. The album's musical twists reflect this varied career. The first track "Sometimes" erupts in flourish, as if a string band taken by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the BPM via a punishing, stunning, repeating percussion. Thick layers of audio, skillfully produced with a long-term partner, feel at once rough and spiritual, and Walton's dark, magical thinking culminate in standout "Lambs", which briefly transforms into a swirling jig. "May your life never end in death," Walton pleads, with poignant gallows humor.
