While
Daughter began as the solo project of singer/guitarist Elena Tonra, following two proper studio albums and a video game soundtrack with her band, she emerged in 2018 with the eponymous
Ex:Re, her solo recording debut. Although
Daughter is known for its elegant, brooding ruminations, some of
Ex:Re's productions are even sparer, as evidenced by the album's first track, "Where the Time Went." It consists of only Tonra's hushed, brittle vocals, a repeated monophonic guitar line, and occasional gossamer touches of cello, hand drums, or additional electric guitar. The song's heartbroken lyrics ("I will leave this empty-handed") set the stage for a breakup album with a title derived from the words "regarding ex." Though they include sentiments like "Romance is dead and done/And it hits between the eyes," songs such as "Romance" and "I Can't Keep You" are more uptempo and incorporate drum kit and multi-part accompaniment, but the album's sound, on average, is less sustained and more frail than
Daughter's, and the lyrics more personal. The forlorn "Too Sad" is an example of a more high-contrast entry that alternates quiet piano and fuzz, but with "My Heart,"
Ex:Re finally disintegrates into silence. ~ Marcy Donelson