Dolores Forever joyfully flip the script on It’s Nothing

With influences spanning from the euphoric shimmer of Haim to the raw emotional candor of Mitski and even the brooding intensity of Sharon Van Etten, the band’s debut album, It’s Nothing, promises a rich tapestry of sound and sentiment. As one would expect from their previously released singles, Dolores Forever dives deep into themes of identity, existential dread, and the jagged edges of love, all wrapped in a sonically diverse package that melds pop sheen with indie grit.

The album kicks off with “Not Now Kids” a track that perfectly encapsulates the band’s knack for blending melancholy with anthemic hooks as it eviscerates world leaders burning down the house while telling everyone else to shut up. “Someday Best” is a tongue-in-cheek but heartfelt love letter to carbs as the pair chime together, “Shut up and eat the pasta”, but more pertinently it’s about living life fully and not waiting for permission.

It’s immediately apparent that the duo are commenting on their own lives and experiences as women and songwriters navigating both the world and the music industry who favour youth and girlhood over pretty much anything else. The self-referential “Concrete” plays with these and other meta tropes as they detail themselves making this album, and how they have built the city to explore but the map to follow is the listeners own. It’s a swirling vortex of bouncing basslines, shimmering guitars and punchy synths.

There’s a concerted effort to show the capable and strong side of love, life and relationships too as with “Split Lip” eschewing the worn-out heartbreak themes and instead protecting and providing a safe space. Loving yourself in the way that friends love you. Don’t change, don’t beat yourself up. Voices soar above the mix, delivering defiant lines that shouldn’t feel ‘radical’ but clearly still might to some ears. It encapsulates the album's confidence and independence perfectly.

“Stop Making It Worse” similarly disperses any negative emotions of self-doubt. “Go Fast Go Slow” examines self-worth, ambition, and body image in the face of such an external blitz of potential hazards or contrary voices. “Rotten Peaches” slinks effortlessly, all pulsating beats and infectious melodies. On “Thank You For Breathing” their tone turns darker and sarcasitic as they chant, “Be aggressive / Be be Aggressive” in full on cheerleader mode. At times it seems like this is a dare and at others a threat. Probably both.

A later standout is the anthemic and infectious “Grace” beginning with sparse instrumentation and introspective lyrics it’s the most sad sounding of the ‘sad banger’ bops on the album. They reach so high for the chorus their sound becomes incredibly enlightening and you want to pump your fist and just let yourself go. Closer “Why Are You Not Scarted Yet?” also rally’s the troops facing a bleak distopian future. Rather than give in it’s a buoyant cathartic listen.

It’s Nothing, is a bold debut that showcases Dolores Forever’s ability to blend the personal with the universal, crafting songs that are as emotionally resonant as they are sonically adventurous. It’s a journey through the highs and lows of modern life, set to a soundtrack that is as varied as it is cohesive. Each track offers a different facet of the band’s sound revealing more with each listen. Dolores Forever may have titled their album It’s Nothing, but make no mistake - this is something special.