Sub rock superstars Random Order have earned that self-proclaimed mantle by maintaining a prolific output since their inception in 1995. They have also toured the world, opening for artists as diverse as Joan Osborne and Salt-n-Pepa, while topping the charts in their homeland of Canada.
The Toronto collective is spearheaded by Lynn Phillips, who orchestrates the eclectic six-piece band around her groovy songs and anti-establishment attitude. There is sense of urgency surrounding their newest LP, Black Lipstick Kiss, which emphasizes their official arrival onto the national scene. This time around the music is steeped in the cinematic tradition of early Tarantino films; Surfed-out stereo riffs, Ska horn sections, and murky club atmosphere.
The title track even unfolds like a mini film, detailing an S&M style encounter with some sort of gypsy sadist. Walking a tightrope of playfulness and sincerity seems to come naturally to Phillips who knows exactly when to duck out and let the bombastic horns take over.
Each track on Black Lipstick Kiss offers a similar dynamic; funky music imbued with a subversive and often serious message. It is as if Punk Rock has matured and found its true musical calling, cancelling out the noise and opting for a sexier soundscape.
All in all, one can’t help but marvel at Random Order’s ability to bring underground culture into the mainstream. For us outsiders who have been waiting for someone to champion, the messiah has arrived.
