Jennifer Walton's First Record "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Elegance
In this song "Miss America", audiences find themselves inside a lodging close to JFK airport, where Jennifer Walton learns the devastating news that her dad has cancer diagnosis. This UK-raised artist was traveling America for the first time, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, and abruptly grief takes over, coloring all in grey. Faltering piano and soft orchestration accompany gothic reports from the road: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Her gentle vocals are delivered with a flat manner, yet this album's intensity stems from the keen penmanship—blending stories, traditional phrases, and direct personal notes—along with surprising maximalism. Few songs recently possess stronger storytelling style than "Shelly", a piece that depicts the killing of a deer and descends into a petrol-laden confrontation, reminiscent of literary pieces lit by glimpses of warped cello. Tense, subdued sections featuring resonating, strummed guitar move to expansive choruses, and Walton's voice electronically altered to become a presence all-knowing and sinister.
Listeners might already know the artist from her work as an electronic producer, disc jockey, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. The album's sonic turns draw on this varied background. The first track "Sometimes" erupts with flourish, as if an ensemble caught by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the BPM via a punishing, beautiful, repeating percussion. Thick layers of audio, skillfully mixed with a longtime partner, feel both gnarly and spiritual, and Walton's morbid, magical thoughts culminate in standout "Lambs", a song that briefly transforms into a swirling dance. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," Walton bargains, exuding heart-aching gallows humor.
