Review; The Dollymops - Gap Year Tourists EP

The Dollymops are an up-and-coming indie-punk four-piece. Having released their second EP, Gap Year Tourists, earlier this month, along with being signed to FourTwenny records, the Oxford based band already seem to be making waves, so I decided to see what the hype was all about...

Kicking off the EP is The Libertines-esque tune Plastic Proletariat. An angsty anthem about a plastic (fake) working class "condescending twat" (a personal favourite lyric from this song, because let's face it, we all know someone who fits the title), Plastic Proletariat already sees both the punk and indie influences coming into play through the energetic guitar riffs and lyrics that emit a feeling of disdain towards the character the song is about. This song is definitely the perfect opening track for the EP - it instantly draws you in and provides an insight into what The Dollymops have to offer, and if this track is anything to go by, what is to come is going to be good!

Second track Pied Piper is a bouncy, lively song that you can't help but move to. Even whilst trying to write this I found myself tapping along to the beat, and it's definitely a tune to dance to. With a straightforward beat and a prominent bassline often making an appearance, Pied Piper sees more of the punk influences shining through, which is further highlighted in vocalist Sean Stevens' charismatic and unique tone of voice that fits in perfectly with the instrumentation.

Things slow down for Addicts. The song begins with a melodic guitar riff, which is soon joined by a softer vocal than what has been heard so far on the EP. Without using a comparison to The Libertines too much, the vocals offer a Pete Doherty sort of vibe, and accompany the guitar well to create a melodic anthem. The rest of the instruments kick in around half way through the track, still following a more mellow progression. However, it is here that the vocals begin to return to the more raw form that we had heard previously on the EP, rather than staying softer the entire way through, which definitely accompanies the full band portion of the song brilliantly.

Punchy, in-your-face vocals introduce title track Gap Year Tourist, bringing back the familiar upbeat indie-punk sound that the first two tracks of the EP captured. There is almost a nostalgic, vintage feel to this song, which when combined with the punky elements of the tune works to create a timeless, feel-good banger that concludes the EP but leaves you wanting more. Overall, I cannot find fault with this EP - it's a fantastic, energetic collection of charismatic and attitude-packed tunes that has definitely left me excited to see what the future holds for The Dollymops!

~ Alex