In an era when identikit indie-by-numbers groups are churned out on an endless production line, flanked by radio friendly manufactured X Factor tripe and a plethora of r&b wanabees, isn’t it refreshing when a young band produce something original?
Well, original may not exactly be the correct choice of wording when it comes to Dollface. Their music is, after all, instantly identifiable most prominently with the likes of Cheap Trick, peppered with more than a few not so subtle nods to Springsteen.
Pure feelgood Americana.
Which makes it all the more surprising that this three-piece actually hail from Brighton. Best friends who have enjoyed each other’s company since they were children, Dollface are a welcome breath of fresh air into what has become an often stagnant and po-faced scene.
One thing that becomes poignantly clear upon even one listen to the ‘You To Lose EP’ is how much pleasure these guys absorb from their art, unadulterated joy and evidently infallible enthusiasm emanating from each and every rapturously struck power chord.
More importantly, their musical talents are equally apparent. The EP’s title track, and lead single, kicks off in the mould of a classic Stone Roses intro, descending into a jubilant ode to youth and everything that goes hand in hand with it. ‘Panic In Paradise’ is cherry picked unabashedly all the way from 1985, but despite its saccharine overtones is a power-pop tour de force that anyone would struggle to tire of.
Dollface cleary pride themselves on playing with a smile on their faces, but in sultry number ‘The Trip’ we glimpse a more raw, almost grunge inspired side to the band. Likewise with the raucous distortion driven explosion that is ‘Lazy Daze’; a potential behemoth track verging precociously on the more polished side of Vines style post-punk.
The band have already made something of a name for themselves on a local scale, their greatest accolade to date being crowned BBC Southern Counties Radio Unsigned Demo Winners, but with the campaign to promote ‘You To Lose’ well and truly underway, some carefully executed PR will hopefully see them garner some praise on a more national level.
Others take note: Dollface are proof, if ever it was needed, that you don’t have to deck yourself out in spandex, lycra or otherwise bollock impairing garments to produce arse kicking, humorous old school rock and roll.
