Daughter - Not to Disappear

Daughter
Not to Disappear
2016
Daughter - Not to Disappear

Daughter an Indie English trio have released this stunning second album Not to Disappear. Their music from the start has been epic in it's sadness, but never crossing into that over emotional territory. However on this record they have really honed it into a razor sharp record that is grand in the right places and delicately quiet in others. The most common comparison Daughter will receive is their English counterpart The xx, however they are not quite to that level just yet. With the singers haunting tones dancing throughout the album at little more than a whisper you can't help but feel chills. The music swirls like a painting, as the album cover would suggest, creating a backdrop for what ever narrative the band is actually trying to tell. The lyrics span from the mundane of every day life to the plight of Alzheimer's disease. One of the more potent lines regarding what seems to be a late night hookup goes: "I'll wash my mouth but still taste you" and takes the singer down the path of unrequited love when sex is involved.

If Daughters are making a play for the big festivals than this record is a step in the right direction. However there are times when they miss opportunities on Not to Disappear. They leave you waiting for a huge breakdown where you can finally release all the tension they have built over a song, but it doesn't often come. On "Alone/With You" the singer paints a picture of sadness that is begging to be shattered with some emotional release but you don't get it and are left feeling just as used as the character in the story. One of the more interesting songs "No Care" which feels out of place with it's high pace and almost post-punk feel is actually a bright spot on the record. The change of pace is a welcome one and a nice staccato on an album for the most part that just floats along. It feels like Daughters are finally finding their place and are just scratching the surface of something really great, Not to Disappear surely won't be fading out of the zeitgeist anytime soon.

7.6 out of 10