Single Review: Moss – Opener

Photo by Dave Gee

Sometimes a track title does exactly what it says. Opener, the new single release from MOSS, does precisely that and then some.

If you know MOSS, you’ll know the brooding, more relaxed darkness of their previous releases, that slow-burning Portishead and Massive Attack energy that wraps a blanket of mood around you. Opener kicks those doors wide open. Bold as brass, faster, grittier, and heading straight for Prodigy territory.

The synth roots are still firmly in place, but this time they arrive with meaty distortion from the very first beat, and a heavy guitar foundation that demands a physical response. This is festival music. Mosh pit music. Music that makes you move before your brain has caught up with what’s happening. Before you even have a choice.

At the heart of it all is Oui Bee, whose vocals are nothing short of stunning; raw, impassioned, and carrying more than a hint of The Mysterines and The Kills. It’s a remarkable thing, the way those vocals sit so comfortably against the track’s heavier elements, holding their own without ever fighting for space.

Two breaks punctuate the track, a well-timed instruction to ‘settle down’, and they’re genuinely needed. Mop your brow, take a drink, and get ready to go again.

Unpredictable throughout. Exactly how the best music should be. MOSS just levelled up. Make sure you’re paying attention.