The First Record "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Elegance
Within the song "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a lodging near JFK airfield, as the musician receives a heartbreaking update of her father's illness discovery. The UK-raised artist was touring America for the first time, drumming with indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when suddenly sadness takes over, coloring everything with melancholy. Faltering piano and hushed orchestration accompany dark reports emanating from the road: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Shopping centers, illicit trades, anxious moments."
Walton's gentle singing are delivered in a deadpan style, yet this record's intensity arises from her sharp penmanship—blending stories, folksy sayings, and direct personal notes—coupled with surprising maximalism. Few songs recently showcase stronger storytelling flair than "Shelly", which depicts the death of a deer and descends toward a petrol-laden reckoning, evoking literary works illuminated with glimpses of warped cello. Anxious, quiet sections featuring echoing, strummed strings move into grand refrains, and Walton's voice digitally manipulated to become a presence omniscient and sinister.
Listeners might previously be familiar with the artist from her work as a music creator, disc jockey, and contributor in groups such as Caroline. Daughters' musical twists draw on her varied background. The opener "Sometimes" bursts in fanfare, like a string band caught by surprise, whereas "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the tempo via a punishing, stunning, looping percussion. Thick layers of audio, skillfully mixed by a longtime collaborator, seem at once gnarly and ethereal, and Walton's morbid, enchanted thoughts peak in standout "Lambs", which momentarily transforms into a twirling jig. "May your life never end in death," she bargains, with heart-aching dark comedy.
