Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Lipstereo, Pop Preservation Society 2022.
Take The Bus is the fourth and final radio single issued from Lipstereo’s recently released EP Modern Mythology.
I am a dedicated Lipstereo fan.
I love their blend of ‘60s inspired indie rock that traverses everything from psychedelia, to Kinks raw grit, and ‘90s-2000s Brit-rock power.
Each single has been beautifully crafted and presents a different facet of the band’s abilities.
Take The Bus starts gently with lead singer, Sam Stranges, crooning: “take the bus to the station, don’t get impatient, I’m there for the ride”
However, by the second verse that track takes a sinister turn.
Sam describes it thus: “It’s like watching a trainwreck in slow motion, almost like seeing your life slip away from you.”
The track is only just over two minutes in length so it’s a remarkable achievement to fit so much into such a small time-frame.
Guitarist Andrew Stainsby cranks out an absolutely outstanding solo using a cry-baby Wah-Wah peddle and a mellotron is also featured in the mix.
Once again producer Mark Opitz’s masterful touch is evident.
The man is a legend of Australian music who has been awarded an AM for Services to Australian Music and produced some of the biggest names in rock including AC/DC, INXS, Cold Chisel, The Angels, Australian Crawl, The Divinyls, Jimmy Barnes and the list goes on.
For Lipstereo to attract the attention of someone of this calibre is remarkable and a feather in their cap.
It’s also an indication that many influential people have marked Lipstereo as one of the hottest new acts on the block and certainly a band to keep an eye on.
During the extended lockdown in Victoria, the boys from Lipstereo apparently wrote and demoed some 50 songs so they have plenty of material to draw upon for future releases.
If you want to get a feel for the band check out their live videos of the singles on YouTube.
They are a damn good band. In fact, they’re one of the best I’ve heard in years.
