Album Review: Daughter - How to Disappear

When listening to Daughter, the sense of anguish and despair is ever present, but somehow they capture the human spirit in such a way, that you do not feel worse after listening to them, just a little more human. With their familiar heartache and melancholy, the trio based out of England have released their second album Not to Disappear on January 15. Thanks to dreamy guitar riffs, hazy vocals and a drum beat in some songs, Daughter’s album is a step in the right direction for a more mature and refined sound.

A solid effort, with a seamless and flowing 10-track list which make you want to sit down, press play and let Daughter bring you in soundscape-y landscapes and a drive through different types of emotions, mainly despair, loneliness, confusion and heartbreak. Although this second album offers something a bit different than their previous releases, mainly a heavier sound, it does not completely veer off from their usual direction.

So far, the album is absent from most of the streaming platforms, but you can order on iTunes (above) or stream on Spotify here.

Guitar melodies and dreamy vocals by Tonra allow Daughters beautiful and dark album to hit you, subtly. A stand-out track on the album “Numbers”, focuses on hooking up and feeling “numb in this kingdom.”

Another standout track, “No Care”, has a serious bad ass vibe to it, especially coming from Daughter. More in your face, and quick beat, with lyrics pertaining to a drunken night out with dysfunctional love. The sound of the new album is more mature and has steered away from being clumped into the indie-folk genre. “Doing the Right Thing” (stream) depicts the theme of Alzeimers and Tonra’s vocals echo out “I'm just fearing one day soon I'll lose my mind.”.

The final track on the album “Made of Stone” is questioning why she isn’t feeling anything, and associating her relationship with being her demise. Thinking that she is made of stone, alluding to how little she feels. Oh Daughter, you know this isn’t true. Daughter feels everything and then some, and wonderfully, the final track ends with “you’ll find love, kid, it exists.” My only gripe with Not to Disappear is that is does not completely challenge the listener. Although the sound of the album is very much complimented by beautiful soundscapes and Tonra’s dreamy vocals, only a handful of tracks truly stand out alone.

It sounds fragile and full of despair, but there is something that Daughter can capture. This melancholic mood that captures certain emotions with a type of confidence. Guitarist Igor Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella compliment lead vocalist, Tonra. It is apparent that this album is still veering on the atmospheric and emotional side, but the lack of “indie-folk” is apparent and much appreciated. The instrumentals feel tighter and more composed. Not to Disappear hasn’t marked Daughter with a groundbreaking album, but their sound has expanded into something greater than before. By their next album, I imagine the room to develop a sound that does not seep so much in to their old sound, but builds and develops into a sound with a stronger impact is inevitable.