The Proposition are a Norwich based acoustic country/folk/blues amalgam with roots in Americana. They formed just two years ago, but all three band members have been playing in bands together for the last twenty years or so. The band comprises Nigel Orme on bass, banjo, acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals, Simon Middleton on vocals, acoustic guitar and mandolin, and Steve Clark on drums, keys, slide guitar and percussion.
This four track E.P. is a foretaste of their debut album due later this year. The opening track ‘Lovers’ Leap’ is a fast-paced country-style song which is underpinned with some great banjo playing. The song is a stab of dark gothic Americana and details the story of a woman who goes on the run with her children (possibly after murdering her other half), whilst the storyline may be bleak, this is firmly tongue in cheek, and with some nice phraseology: - “Let it come down, let it wash right over me, Oh, let my destiny unfurl!”
‘Mr. Foolish’ which follows is a smooth delightful country ballad which is a self deprecating love song. Once again, the banjo features heavily in the melody, and Simon Middleton’s vocals are crisp and clear.
‘24th & Vicksburg’ is the sort of song that surprises the listener, primarily because it is so steeped in American country roots, that it’s hard to believe that the band are English. An unrequited love song where the character has given up the rambling, but not the gambling, there is some clever rhyming wordplay in this: “But I know I’m not the love, you were thinking of/ As you wander this world night and day/ But you got to take your chances; you can’t always pick your dances/ Cause the music won’t always go your way.”
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Finally, the E.P. closes with ‘Don’t Let Me In’ which to my mind is the best track, a blues harp blast and strumalong, which is significantly different from the other three tracks and shows that the band have a variety of styles on offer. The story is all about the sort of bad man that will lead someone astray, and as the lyrics unfolded, it brought to my mind, the iconic picture of Robert Mitchum leaning on the porch railing in ‘Night of the Hunter’: "Hey, hey, hey don’t believe me when I say, I’m not the man to lead you into sin/ No, no, no if you see me in the road, listen honey don’t let me in.”
This clearly is a nasty piece of work, as the character describes himself: - “I always was the Devil’s son, keen of eye and forked of tongue.” This was an absolutely great end to what I thought was a good introdcutory E.P. If the album is as good as this, then it will certainly be worth considering.
The Proposition online
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