Autun Opic is a man of dual origins, born to German and Croatian parents but prefers to sing in English, just as well or I would not be writing this review and you would not be reading it.
Finger-picking acoustic guitar, traces of blues, jazz (accompanied by his band he played this year's Montreux Jazz Festival this year) and folk as he cross pollinates music of Django Reinhardt, ragtime, swing and pop without committing himself to one in particular genre Antun Opic is loaded in talent.
“Shovel My Coal” opens the EP, and though good it is to some extent out done by bustling, daring piece “The Journalist”; with such lyrics as I’m the filter of the truth’, plus gritty electric guitar, pounding rhythm it combines hints of mystery in an engaging story-telling way.
On pulling back, becoming melancholy Opic introduces passionate gypsy strains on “Hide & Seek” before bowing out in style on the intricate, “Come with Me” as he introduces an even more varied, intriguing and hugely innovative choice of arrangement. Instruments utilised on the four-track EP include guitar, bass, drums, percussion, tuba, clarinet, sax, trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone and choir. Excellent rootsy feel, honest and pure Antun Opic offers something few others do.
Maurice Hope