Jennifer Walton's Debut Record "Daughters" Delves Into Sorrow and Style

In the track "Miss America", listeners find themselves inside a lodging close to JFK airport, as Jennifer Walton learns a heartbreaking news of her father's illness discovery. This UK-raised performer had been touring the US for the first time, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, and suddenly grief takes over, tinging all in grey. Unsteady keys and hushed orchestration accompany gothic reports from the tour van: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."

Walton's gentle vocals are delivered in a deadpan style, while this album's tension arises from her keen penmanship—blending fiction, folksy sayings, and direct diary entries—coupled with unexpected maximalism. Few songs recently showcase stronger novelistic style compared to "Shelly", a piece that describes the killing of an animal and descends toward a fuel-soaked reckoning, evoking written pieces lit by glimpses of warped strings. Anxious, subdued sections with echoing, strummed strings transition to grand choruses, with her vocals electronically altered into something omniscient and menacing.

Listeners may already be familiar with Walton as an electronic producer, DJ, and contributor to bands such as Caroline. The album's musical twists draw on her varied career. The opener "Sometimes" bursts with fanfare, like an ensemble caught unawares, while "Born Again Backwards" drastically increases the BPM with an intense, beautiful, repeating percussion. Dense walls of sound, expertly mixed with a longtime partner, feel both gnarly and spiritual, and Walton's morbid, magical thinking culminate in highlight "Lambs", which briefly becomes a swirling dance. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," she bargains, exuding poignant dark comedy.

Stephanie Figueroa
Stephanie Figueroa

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot game strategies and player psychology.