Delivery Service - Five Songs EP

The Dublin/Drogheda foursome, Delivery Service, have tapped into a nostalgic yet fresh sound.  Their ‘90s indie aesthetic is evident in their look, clothes, and slacker vibe, all of which translate into their music.  It’s a grungy college rock sound reminiscent of The Breeders but perhaps more aligned with Belly and The Juliana Hatfield Three. Lyric-driven songwriters Becca Daly and Ashley Aberdeen often write individual verses while swapping vocal assignments throughout. Their recent single ‘Truancy’ sets the tone with an upbeat track about the consequences of parental behaviour. The catchy melody has rarely left my head since release day. The middle trio of tracks seems interconnected. ‘Don’t Get it’ reflects on a dissolved relationship, becoming more pointed as the song progresses.  On ‘First Kiss’, the considered lyric “I try to rationalise, the way that he treats me when no one’s around” transforms into anger, “I’ve been tip-toeing around him for months”. By the time ‘Bloodsucker’ arrives, the intensity escalates: “Front runner, mother fucker, you’re going under” suggests the playful vocalists are not to be trifled with.  Throughout all these tracks, Ciara O’Neill adds subtle synth magic, elevating each song like a ninja producer. Lastly, I’ve been living with lead single ‘Ghost’ for over a year and it only gets better with each listen. If written 30 years ago, it could conceivably have achieved iconic status.  However, it will have to settle for being brilliant, like the rest of the EP.