Jennifer Walton's First Album "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Style
Within this track "Miss America", listeners are placed inside a lodging near JFK airfield, as Jennifer Walton receives a heartbreaking news that her dad has illness diagnosis. The UK-raised artist was traveling the US on her initial visit, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly grief casts a shadow, tinging all in grey. Faltering keys and hushed strings underscore gothic dispatches emanating from the tour van: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."
Walton's gentle vocals come across with a deadpan style, yet this album's tension stems from the keen writing—blending fiction, traditional phrases, and blunt personal notes—coupled with surprising maximalism. Few tracks recently showcase stronger storytelling flair than "Shelly", which depicts the death of an animal and descends toward a petrol-laden reckoning, evoking literary pieces lit with glimpses of distorted cello. Tense, quiet sections featuring echoing, plucked strings move into grand choruses, with Walton's vocals digitally manipulated to become a presence all-knowing and sinister.
Audiences may previously be familiar with Walton as a music creator, disc jockey, and member to bands such as Caroline. The album's sonic turns reflect this diverse background. The first track "Sometimes" bursts in flourish, as if a string band caught by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the BPM with an intense, beautiful, looping percussion. Thick layers of audio, skillfully produced with a longtime collaborator, feel both rough and spiritual, and Walton's dark, enchanted thoughts peak on standout "Lambs", which momentarily transforms into a twirling jig. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," she pleads, exuding heart-aching gallows humor.
