Jennifer Walton's Debut Album "Daughters" Explores Sorrow and Style
In the track "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a hotel room close to JFK airfield, as Jennifer Walton receives the devastating update that her dad has cancer discovery. This Sunderland-born performer was touring America on her initial visit, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when suddenly grief takes over, coloring all with melancholy. Unsteady keys and hushed strings accompany dark reports from the tour van: "Rural scenes and crumbling homes / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."
Walton's gentle singing are delivered in a deadpan style, yet the record's intensity arises from her keen penmanship—blending stories, folksy sayings, and direct personal notes—along with unexpected maximalism. Few tracks recently possess stronger storytelling flair than "Shelly", a piece that depicts the death of an animal and spirals toward a fuel-soaked confrontation, reminiscent of literary pieces lit with glimpses of distorted cello. Tense, subdued sections featuring echoing, plucked strings transition to grand choruses, with her voice digitally manipulated to become something all-knowing and sinister.
Listeners may already be familiar with Walton as a music creator, disc jockey, and member to bands like Caroline. The album's sonic turns reflect her diverse career. The first track "Sometimes" bursts with fanfare, like an ensemble caught by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically ups the tempo via a punishing, stunning, looping drum fill. Dense layers of audio, skillfully produced with a longtime partner, seem at once gnarly and spiritual, while her dark, magical thoughts culminate on standout "Lambs", which momentarily becomes a swirling jig. "May your life never end in death," Walton pleads, with poignant dark comedy.