Both broadening and defying the sounds of their first two 7” releases, Delivery continue their claim for the title of hardest and fastest working band in town on their debut full length LP ‘Forever Giving Handshakes’.
Having only formed in March 2021 Delivery are still a relatively fresh face on the scene, with the majority of their career thus far being spent in locked-down rooms and recording studios, but that’s about to change.
With the group having just dropped one of the strongest Aussie punk albums of the past few years, it’s only a matter of time before Delivery are recognised as up-and-comers worth keeping a close eye on.
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With their debut release Forever Giving Handshakes epitomising prominent aspects of Melbourne’s modern-day art-punk movement, as well as a healthy dose of classic pub rock nostalgia, it’s an album that’ll quickly strike a chord with punters of any age.
Opener ‘Picture This’ provides a linear post-punk nature to the rhythms, reeling you in immediately with its metronomic bassline and a repetitive Joy Division quality to the strumming, whilst ‘Poor-To-Middling MoneyMaking’ maintains more of a manically aggressive quality, feeling closer to the likes of contemporaries such Clamm or Stiff Richards.
Lead single ‘Baader Meinhof’ stands out due to its punchier synths and the sharp pitch of Bec Allen’s vocals, at times feeling reminiscent of the high tones of revered pub-rock singer Graeme ‘Shirley’ Strachan of The Skyhooks.
‘Office Party’ highlights unique tonal shifts due to its collation of vocals from all members of the band, adding an undeniable punch as each member’s voices overlap and intertwine. As does ‘No Homes’, which stands out due to its adoption of guitar distortion and an almost spoken word cadence from lead vocalist Daniel Devlin. In another defining moment for the group, ‘Wear It Well’ ushers in punchy chanted choruses and staggered angular builds that’ll undoubtedly go down a treat live.
Heading in a slightly different direction to its predecessors, ‘Lifetimer’ veers towards the alt-rock stylings of ‘Take It From The Man!’ era The Brian Jonestown Massacre, with its droney reverbed vocals channelling some psychedelic textures. The album closer ‘Best Western’ highlights a more subdued direction, letting its prominent bassline act as the song’s lead driving force up until its chaotic final moments.
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As you may have picked up, Delivery’s first effort transcends the rudimentary confines of traditional punk, pulling influence from a vast array of beloved acts both old and new. With twangy guitar lines; art-punk complexities and a healthy dose of wit in tow, Forever Giving Handshakes defines Delivery as one of the most unique punk outfits in Melbourne, with their debut effort wasting no time carving out a distinct sound for the group.
An absolute standout release that’ll continue to influence the emerging Aus punk scene for years to come.
Label: SpoilSport Records/Anti Fade Records (Au & NZ) and Feel It Records (US)
Release date: November 11
Check it out on Bandcamp here.
