“I can’t be without, I just need it here”
This lyric in the first track on the album on Not Disappear, New Ways, describes exactly how I feel about this album. The wait is over - Daughter has blessed us with a new album. This is the most varied work that Daughter has offered us to date. Lyrically, vocally and musically, the album covers a range of emotions and styles. New Ways has an intoxicating intensity that draws listeners into the album. Mothers is reminiscent of 90’s alternative rock and the cleverly titled Alone/With You has a fresh sound that features intermittent offbeat bass as well as choral harmonies.
On my first listening of Not to Disappear, I found myself surprised by almost every track on the album. It is a refreshing album in the sense that it is not a continuation of previous work, but rather a collection of thought-out songs with a beautiful musical depth to them. No Care features a gritty vocal by lead singer, Elena Tonra. It is a fast-paced song with uncharacteristically jarring lyrics. While If You Leave featured undoubtedly dark lyricism, songs such as No Care and Mothers offers listeners a more assertive type of melancholy.
The album is not driven by the guitar and vocal melodies that characterise Daughter’s earlier work, but rather the majority of tracks on the album are introduced with heavier guitar, bass and drum sounds which create an alternative rock sound. A range of different vocal styles are interlaced with this backdrop. Tonra relies heavily on dissonant and repetitive melodies to create the distinct mood of the album.
Alone/With You has a rich instrumental that blends choral style harmonies with various synthesizer sounds and a consistent beat that runs through the album. Moody effects are added to the electric guitar and bass, creating a full and emotive sound. Lyrically, the track has a bitter tone and the content has a much sharper edge to it than Daughter’s previous work. This may be said of the mood of Not to Disappear as a whole. Where If You Leave and The Wild Youth cover general and abstract thoughts, Daughter’s newest work tends to veer more towards the specific. For example, Medicine and Smother are not necessarily about romantic relationships, and may be interpreted to apply to different contexts. While Numbers and Doing the Right Thing continue in a similar vein, the rest of the album does not.
It is interesting to see how Daughter has diversified their sound in Not to Disappear without compromising on the quality they have become known for. I have a feeling that this album will remain relevant for some time to come as it is beautifully evocative and enchanting from the opening lines.
