Daughter - If You Leave
by Anthony Strutt
published: 29 / 6 / 2013

Label:
4AD
Format: CD
intro
Stunning debut album from London-based three-piece Daughter, whose sound is both minimal and expansive at the same time
Daughter is a hotly-tipped London based three-piece and consists of Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella. The songs are written by Elena, and ‘If You Leave’, their debut album which has come out on 4AD, follows on from two indie EPs, ‘His Young Heart’ and ‘The Wild Youth’. Both of these EPs feature four songs each, but only one song is revisited for this debut album. Daughter now have a proper budget behind them, and in doing this have a much bigger sound. For ‘If You Leave’ they have developed a Florence and the Machine groove which is a shame, as their earlier works hinted at a more stripped-down Beth Orton/Mazzy Star angle. ‘Winter’, which kicks the album open, however, has the sound of a band that knows its own destiny. They have a complex sound that is both minimal and expansive at the same time. ‘Smother’, the first single for 4AD, was limited to a mere six hundred copies on 7 inch only. It has more of Daughter’s original sound and minimal in tone has room to the let the music talk around every word of the lyrics, which are sung by Elena in a heavenly manner. ‘Youth’, the only revisit, begins in a stripped-down manner, but becomes more progressive as it develops. ‘Still’ is soft and calm, almost humble as a hymn, and again lush and beautifully arranged. ‘Lifeforms’ has a softly-plucked guitar, which assists a hushed vocal while the backing fits gently into place. ‘Tomorrow’ rocks gently, is well-paced, soft but elegant and has a vocal that is as fragile as silk. ‘Human’, the second 7 inch off this album, has more of an upbeat vibe to it. It is like they invited a party into the studio to have fun with the band, and it recalls Kate Bush in an upbeat mood. ‘Touch’ is again almost holy in sound, and pulls off once more being very minimal and lush in its arrangement. ‘Amsterdam’ recalls Beth Orton during her ‘Trailer Park’-era. ‘Shallows’ ends the album, and, almost seven minutes long, builds slowly. The instrumentation behind Elena’s vocals shine brightly, building up into a wonderful wall of solid musicianship. A stunning debut album.
Track Listing:-
1 Winter2 Smother
3 Youth
4 Still
5 Lifeforms
6 Tomorrow
7 Human
8 Touch
9 Amsterdam
10 Shallows
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/ohdaughterhttp://ohdaughter.com/
https://twitter.com/ohdaughter
https://www.youtube.com/user/ohdaughter
Label Links:-
http://www.4ad.com/https://www.facebook.com/fourad/
https://twitter.com/4AD_Official
https://plus.google.com/explore/4AD
live reviews |
Daughter |
![]() |
Marie Hazelwood takes photographs of indie folk trio Daughter at a show at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral |
digital downloads
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
Sarah Cracknell - InterviewDouglas MacIntyre - Interview
Jann Klose - Sugar My
Jimmy Webb - (With support from Ashley Campbell and Thor Jenson), Cadogan Hall, London. 27/5/2022
Jarvis Cocker - Good Pop Bad Pop - An Exhibition of Objects and Keepsakes of Jarvis Cocker
Loop - Interview
Tom Newman - Interview
Rolling Stones - Anfield, Liverpool, 9/6/2022
Simply Red - La Marina, Valencia, Spain, 7/6/2022
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Def Leppard - Diamond Star HalosLucky Ones - Slow Dance, Square Dance, Barn Dance
Various - Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Dave Stewart - Ebony McQueen
Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That...
Emile Sande - Let's Say For Instance
Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations - Cockerel
Girls At Our Best! - Pleasure
Soup Review - Go and See
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Edition
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart