Opus Kink - 'Wild Bill'
Rather than a conventional “hello”, Brighton collective Opus Kink screams a salutary “Yee-haw!” to new fans with their latest single ‘Wild Bill’.
On paper, a Western ballad about a gun-slinging American folk hero might sound like cheesy novelty song territory, and a ludicrous offering from an up-and-coming UK band in 2021.
‘Wild Bill’ is anything but cheesy.
An artful blend of eclectic musical styles, an epochal range of vocal styles and a fiery energy pervade the track and elevate the eccentric concept to a well-executed pastiche of the frontier ballad genre with undeniable staying power..
The track opens with a syncopated psychedelic-sounding guitar riff which is quickly sandwiched between a chaotically galloping drum-beat and distant trumpets which herald the arrival of Angus Rogers’ brooding voice.
Rogers proceeds to recount the tale of legendary Old West anti-hero “Wild Bill” Hickok, “a man that you cannot kill”, punctuated by frenzied choral chants, a funky bassline, electric keys and a warbling synth which drags the ballad out of the 19th century and flinging into somewhere in the 21st (or possibly 22nd.)
The story is further brought to life in a cinematic music video directed by Kyle McCarthy which sees Rogers as the eponymous Bill hunting down the rest of the band ( who are Sam Abbo on bass, Fin Abbo on drums Jazz Pope on keys & synth, Johnny Giles playing the trumpet, and Jed Morgans on alto saxophone.)
In its final verse, the singer switches to first person, directly addressing you - “Say my name, Wild Bill!” - and concludes the impressive portfolio of vocal range he displays, which throughout the song includes a rich, gravelly baritone, frantic panting, and an ability to emote rapidly between light and shade, by howling through the song’s final act in a manner best described as “wild”.
The band’s sound has previously been given various genre fusing labels. They were previously called “horn-fuelled filth-funk” by the NME (who have ranked ‘Wild Bill’ at number 6 in their latest ‘New Bangers’ playlist) and this latest release could be perhaps described as “acid mariachi” and definitely described as “fun”.
Words by Joe Buncle