DAUGHTER

Stereo Mind Game (4AD)

After a largely instrumental album back in 2017, this is indie outfit Daughter’s first collection of vocal-led songs since 2014’s Not To Disappear. Stereo Mind Game is a strong continuation of Daughter’s heavily textured, almost shoegaze, sound that just shies away from sonic experimentation and risk-taking that the material needs.

The lyrics on Stereo Mind Game are wonderfully rich, examining isolation and communication in fresh and meaningful ways – see Dandelion’s hook, “I’d like to look you in the eyes, not fearing staring into the void waiting for replies”. Neptune is the most beautiful song, with Elena Tonra exploring her vocal range to great effect, and Junkmail starts with a Björk-ish glitch riff that suits the title well. But there’s not one central song, or moment, where all the elements of Daughter – great vocals, insightful lyrics and interesting production – come together to elevate an otherwise promising album that offers frustratingly less than it might.

words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES