Wil Francis, best
known as “Aiden’s” front man, has returned to UK
Est.1987 headed down
to Leeds Cockpit to discover why this solo
venture is everything that Aiden isn’t…
“Silentium Amoris” is a poem by Oscar Wilde; now however, it
is also the title of William Control’s latest album. Released in April Wil is
back on the road showering fans with hits from the record, as well as treating
the crowds to songs from his back catalogue of the project now in its fourth
year.
Defying typical conventions in music and its respective
genres William Control combines the beauty of music and literature. Although
the crowd gathered this evening at The Cockpit is modest, the turn out it is
testament to the music that William Control creates, proving that is transcends
age limitations. It is very clear that whether he is playing to a large or
small audience that his on stage charisma and enthusiasm is unfaltering. Commanding
the stage, his backing band and indeed the audience Wil guides the set through
the epic and grand opener, “All Due Restraint” to the more recent “Kiss Me
Judas”.
Mid-way through the set, “Disconnecting” sees the crowd turn
into a dancing frenzy and the song typifies William Control’s sound; 80s new
wave electronic synth sounds mixed with melodic beats. Smoking by this point in
the evening, Wil is captivating and mystifying and announces a song which he’s
never played over in the UK
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| William Control on stage in Leeds |
The lines of “Strangers” are mimicked on stage; “He picks
her up and ties the rope so tight, her cuffs are swelling black and blue, pinching and bleeding”, as Wil [pre-arranged]
takes a girl from the crowd and ties her wrists. The direct and soaring
“Beautiful Loser”, taken from his debut album “Hate Culture”, pierces through
the venue as the set comes to a conclusion.
However, the crowd are not yet satisfied and beckon William
Control on for an encore. Wil regales of how it has been two years since his
last visit to Leeds and that he’s happy to be
back, before bursting in to “Perfect Servant” with its dark and sexually
explicit lyrics. Ending the set tonight with “I’m Only Human Sometimes” the enigma
that is “William Control” is broken down; his alter ego, the darker side has
been released. The distorted, melancholic and sinister sounds are everything
that Aiden aren’t, part of the reason behind the project. Dark and beautifully macabre, Wil Francis’
lyrics blur the line between art, music and literature. Perfectly poetic, the
set is theatrical and wholly engaging; a show we recommend you experience for
yourselves!
Stay locked to
Est.1987 as we have an exclusive interview with William Control coming very
soon!
