Delivery have shared their latest single, “The New Alphabet”.
It’s the newest taste of their upcoming album, Force Majeure, set for release on Friday, January 17th via Heavenly Recordings. Force Majeure marks the follow-up to their 2022 debut Forever Giving Handshakes, which earned a spot in our Best Australian Albums of 2022 list.
Fresh off their UK tour with The Vaccines, the Melbourne garage-punk band lean into post-punk territory on the track, combining scuzzy guitars with a loose, driving groove before closing with a noisy, chaotic solo.
Guitarist-vocalist James Lynch says the track explores a familiar lyrical theme for the band: getting inside the head of “someone who thinks they’re top shit.”
“Weirdly and unintentionally, ‘The New Alphabet’ is something of a spiritual twin to ‘The Complex’ from our first album,” he explains. “Both tracks come in at number six on the record, are built around wonky guitars over a slightly loosened groove, and both share a similar lyrical concept that I sometimes revert back to for Delivery. Which is, taking on the perspective of a character who thinks they’re top shit, when it’s glaringly obvious that they’re not.
“Not really sure which murky part of my subconscious thinks that’s a fun topic to write songs about, but I guess the idea of someone developing their own alphabet just to save face was too good to ignore. Good news is this song isn’t really aimed at anyone in particular, which also means I can take full credit for the legend move of describing yourself as a “force majeure” – would love to hear that one used in real life.
“In typical Delivery style, this track came together a bit like a jigsaw puzzle and there was a lot of re-arranging to make it properly make sense. Luckily, once we landed on the unnecessary key-change/noise-guitar solo section, everything seemed to make sense,” Lynch adds.
The single arrives alongside a playful home movie-style music video, featuring the band in full alien get-up exploring Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and the UK, where they indulge in Earth’s greatest offerings: pubs, crisps, and telly (watch above).
“The New Alphabet” follows previous Force Majeure singles “Digging the Hole”, “Only a Fool”, and “Operating at a Loss.”
Delivery’s ‘The New Alphabet” is out now via Heavenly Recordings. Force Majeure is out January 17th via Heavenly Recordings / PIAS (pre-save/pre-order here).
