Daughter – Stereo Mind Game

Daughter have built a steady following since their debut album, If You Leave (in 2013), with their blend of indie-folk and shoegaze. The London trio return with their first LP since 2016, Stereo Mind Game – a record well worth the wait for fans, showing continued growth in their sound across its 12 tracks.  

Be on Your Way is a moody, slow kick-off. Built around Elena Tonra’s vocals, it unhurriedly incorporates elements and adds layers. Party contrasts this, driven by a background drumbeat, but again gradually adds to the sonic structure. 

Dandelion opens with an acoustic guitar, which lingers in the background and marries the drumbeat and more electronic elements. This track has a comparatively upbeat groove and is sure to be a fan favourite, showing off the full range of the group’s scope and development. It’s hard to pin Daughter down to a particular sound here: they maintain the labels attached to them earlier in their career but impressively juxtapose them with a new set of influences and textures. 

Neptune is a steadier offering that allows Tonra’s vocals to take centre-stage again, showing an intriguing mix of styles and not necessarily going where listeners might expect. One of the more energetic songs of the collection, Swimback has an indie and almost punk vibe, built around its bass line. It works wonderfully in contrast to some of the other timbres on the record, with its slightly distorted vocals, but is no less impressive. 

Future Lover carries on the experimental streak with a more electronic and almost triphop feel that builds into something heavier in its second half. Instead of this being a step too far, the band rise to the challenge, showing the versatility that is present throughout this new release. Isolation counters this perfectly, a stripped-back, acoustic track that again suits Tonra’s vocals and feels like it could have come from a different group, but still fits into the album’s overall spectrum.

Stereo Mind Game is a winning return from Daughter, with a diverse set of influences on display, from indie and punk to folk and triphop; it’s the subtle shifts between tracks and the way the trio are able to seamlessly weave in each new sound that makes this work so impressive. An exciting and unexpected listen. 

Christopher Connor

Stereo Mind Game is released on 7^th April 2023. For further information or to order the album visit Daughter’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Future Lover here: