Jennifer Walton's First Album "Daughters" Explores Sorrow and Style

In this track "Miss America", audiences find themselves in a lodging close to JFK airfield, as the musician learns a devastating update that her dad has cancer diagnosis. The UK-raised artist was touring the US on her initial visit, drumming alongside indie band Kero Kero Bonito, when abruptly grief takes over, coloring all with melancholy. Faltering keys and hushed strings accompany gothic reports emanating from the road: "Cattle farm and broke down shack / Strip-mall, drug deal, panic attacks."

Walton's soft vocals come across in a flat manner, yet this album's tension stems from the sharp penmanship—mixing fiction, traditional phrases, and blunt personal notes—along with unexpected rich textures. Not many songs recently showcase stronger storytelling style compared to "Shelly", which depicts the death of an animal and descends into a fuel-soaked confrontation, reminiscent of literary pieces lit by glimpses of distorted cello. Tense, quiet sections featuring echoing, strummed strings transition to grand choruses, and Walton's vocals digitally manipulated into something all-knowing and menacing.

Listeners might previously be familiar with Walton from her work as a music creator, DJ, and member to bands like Caroline. The album's musical twists draw on this diverse career. The opener "Sometimes" erupts in fanfare, like an ensemble caught unawares, while "Born Again Backwards" radically ups the tempo via an intense, stunning, looping drum fill. Thick walls of sound, skillfully produced by a long-term collaborator, seem at once rough and spiritual, and her dark, enchanted thinking peak in standout "Lambs", which briefly transforms into a twirling dance. "I hope your existence doesn't conclude with dying," she pleads, exuding poignant dark comedy.

Natalie Jackson DDS
Natalie Jackson DDS

Lena is a digital productivity coach and writer with over a decade of experience helping professionals streamline their workflows.