five songs is the debut EP from Dublin-based indie rock quartet Delivery Service. The EP showcases their DIY sound with songs written from the female perspective, navigating their feelings and experiences with life and love. The band formed over a shared passion for 90s grunge and the riot grrrl movement. The EP was recorded and mixed by Aaron Corcoran (Skinner) and mastered by Jamie Hyland (M(h)aol).
The band share the following on five songs:
“These songs are the first batch that we wrote and played together as a band, so it feels great to finally have them out in the world. We spent a year learning how to write and play together and this EP is the product of our collaborative effort. They encapsulate an innocence and for some of us they were the first songs we ever wrote and played. The EP is a perfect introduction to us as a band and showcases our sound perfectly; we don’t strive for overly produced songs that sound perfect or huge, we like the DIY approach and believe less is more.”
‘Truancy’ opens five songs with the most delicious vocals. The delicate shoegaze start to the EP combines beautiful harmonies with the crisp plucking of the guitar. ‘Truancy’ then bursts into life as the narrative unfolds, the looping layers creating a contemplative start to five songs. The forthright questioning of behaviour is portrayed with an increasingly emotive pull.
‘Don’t Get It’ lifts the pace, the vocal and bass line blending to create such an impact. What begins tentatively builds as the track progresses, the disdain growing. The recognition of heartbreak at the end of a relationship, having been replaced by another is powerfully expressed. The dignity is there in the assertive vocal delivery, it’s the lyrics which give away the hurt that is felt: “I left my shoes in your house. Wonder if they’ll fit her feet like mine.”
And then a sharp turn for ‘First Kiss’. Sharp and crisp it canters along, a stream of conscience sharing thoughts on a relationship: “I don’t want to be your mother”. The crystal clear vocals are a joy, the lyrics so whip smart it would have been a shame to miss them: “I’m not sure I want to be your lover. I’m not sure it’s worth the labour”. The mid track shift is so striking, the genteel start suddenly heading into something more manic, the frustration tipping over as if the calm exterior of trying to hold it all together becomes too much. Switching back to the unruffled delivery is so expressive because of the subject matter. The theme continues on ‘Bloodsucker’, a calm and considered critique of the behaviour of others. The strong language is initially delivered with composure, however the undertone of discontent is growing, until everyone piles in vocally, the power of friends as a support system proving invaluable.
Be warned, the guitar riff of final track ‘Ghost’ is an earworm. There is also a hint of tension with a distant layer of electricity sitting just underneath. The vocal is again gorgeous, and conveys desire in a beautifully assertive tone. The quartet of Becca Daly, Ashley Abbedeen, Ciara O’Neill and Niall Thornton state that they write and perform for fun and that is evident throughout five songs. They tease the listener with their slacker vibe which gives way to a more impassioned delivery on occasion, conveying their disappointment in the behaviour of others. An assured debut from the Irish 4-piece.
The EP was released online on 1 May and is also available on 12″ vinyl record via Spindizzy Records and Blowtorch Records.
For more information on Delivery Service please check their instagram.
Review: 7 out of 10