Also known as A.S.K. Albums Mind Fruit, Guru Mother | Years active 1992-1994 | |
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Past members Kirsty Hawkshaw
Kevin Dodds
Ian Munro
Nigel Walton Origin London, United Kingdom (1992) Members Kirsty Hawkshaw, Nigel Walton, Ian Munro, Kevin Dodds Record labels East West Records, PWL International Genres Electronica, Progressive house Similar Miss Jane, Orbital, The Shamen, Utah Saints, Bizarre Inc | ||
Opus III was an English electronic music group who had success on the UK Singles Chart and on the U.S. Dance charts. The group consisted of vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw and producers/musicians Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel Walton. The group members promoted a strong environmental and feminist message through their lyrics, album liner notes and photo and video imagery.
Contents
Biography
Prior to the forming of Opus III, Dodds, Munro, and Walton, who were members of the Spiral Tribe, signed with MCA Records UK under the name A.S.K. The act released their first single, "Dream," in 1990. It was also the same year that they noticed a rave dancer that they would add to the act as their visual dancer and afterwards become their lead singer, Kirsty Hawkshaw. The group would eventually become Opus III in 1992.
Their debut album, Mind Fruit, produced the track "It's a Fine Day", a cover of a 1983 single by Jane, which topped the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1992 and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.
The song, now considered a house music classic, is the basis of Orbital's 1992 track "Halcyon" and its album version "Halcyon + On + On" included in their second eponymous album; the "la la la" section of the "It's A Fine Day" chorus was backmasked and sampled throughout the song. Hawkshaw appeared in the video for "Halcyon" playing a housewife who was 'under the influence'.
The other single release from Mind Fruit was "I Talk To The Wind", a cover of the 1969 song by King Crimson. This was not a big chart success in the UK, only reaching number 52.
Opus III's second album Guru Mother surfaced in 1994 and produced another U.S. number-one dance song "When You Made The Mountain". A third dance chart entry, "Hand in Hand (Looking for Sweet Inspiration)" hit number 14.
The group disbanded after their second album. Hawkshaw was worried the project was becoming too commercial, which is one of the reasons for the band's separation. Hawkshaw went on to pursue a solo career, lending her vocals to a number of electronic and dance music artists and tracks into the opening years of the 21st century, including Delerium, Silent Poets, DJ Tiësto and again with Orbital.
Studio albums
Songs
It's a Fine DayMind Fruit · 1992
I Talk to the WindMind Fruit · 1992
Evolution RushMind Fruit · 1992