Music Review | Daughter: Not to Disappear

Robyn Welsh, Staff Writer

4AD | Score: A-

Daughter’s second album Not to Disappear originated in a place of pain. It examines the struggles of death, emptiness, loneliness, and how to cope with these. Constantly throughout the album, Elena Tonra’s hushed vocals suggest a longing for freedom and portray the deep-seated grief that she has harnessed and made into something tragically beautiful. The melodies, layered percussion, guitars, and vocals combine to create a calming and slow narrative. The guitar acts as a constant hum and helps drive the progression of the album; even after it is gone – it lingers. This lingering effect is one of the things that allows the music to constantly build. Compared to their first album, Not to Disappear delves deeper into raw emotions and gets to the gut of what music should make you do: think and feel.