In 2021, The Stripp contributed a couple of brand new tracks to a split EP with Electric Frankenstein. At that point, the Aussie band only had a sole EP to their credit, but their material ran rings around the veteran punk and roll band. Electric Frankenstein still sounded good, of course, but they were no match for the fiery, still new band who’d been paired with them.

A few years on, it seems that The Stripp have lost none of their spark. Released ahead of a full length album, this pair of tunes capture all of the sharp edges and the genuine excitement of their earlier work.

‘If You Want Me’ kicks off with a dirty rock ‘n’ roll riff, introduces a heavy bass drum, then an extra layer of guitar allows The Stripp to explode into a massive slab of grubby hard rock, overlaid by some furious lead work that makes the band sound like a tight version of New York Dolls. That brings a whole world of excitement within the first twenty seconds, even before the lead vocal arrives. This sets a very muscular sounding band in place, but the music is quickly in danger of being outshone by Bek Taylor’s lead vocal. Cited as being the love child of Joan Jett and Lemmy, her performance has plenty of grit, but what really makes this work is her ability to infuse the tough sound with a real sense of soul. She curls her voice around every syllable in a way that really brings the performance to life. Armed with a huge melody that contrasts the music’s sharper edges brilliantly and a deceptively simple hook, Taylor steers the high octane track with a huge amount of confidence throughout. …And for those hankering after more of the furies present in the intro, a careening lead guitar returns for a great sounding solo before the band show off their more melodic – and even more old school – side with a brief burst of twin lead guitar. Bringing back the chorus for one last rousing moment before bowing out, this track leaves nothing to chance and relies on no “filler” moments, delivering a classic alternative party anthem that fans and first time listeners should love.

‘So Long’ feels a tad sedate by comparison, since the sharp edged lead guitar work takes a backseat, but it’s another track that features some great musical staples. The fat walking bassline running through the core of the performance clings onto the band’s punk ‘n’ roll ethic, while a chunky rhythm guitar brings a grubby tone that’s a little closer to Scandinavian bands like The Hellacopters. Both combined helps to create a solid base for another great vocal, and against the punchy arrangement Bek drops a slightly angry delivery that’s, perhaps, a smidgeon closer to late period Distillers than some previous Stripp tunes, but everyone sounds great. There’s less of an “instant gratification” here due to a more sedate delivery, but sedate doesn’t ever mean soft, and when the lead guitar arrives, somewhat belatedly, there’s almost as much power as before, and the sharp chorus should, in time, win over The Stripp’s growing audience.

Both of these tracks are markedly different from each other, and yet make a great pairing, despite being released a week apart. They definitely telegraph the forthcoming album very effectively since they show off a band who not only understand musical and lyrical hooks, but also the power that comes with economy. There’s no flab within these arrangements; The Stripp never show off any kind of musical flamboyance with an extended coda, and there’s never a feeling that listeners are getting one chorus too many. In short, good, honest, grubby rock ‘n’ roll rarely sounded better. With this band, you’re in very safe hands.

December 2025