10 September 2018
Newsdesk
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' soundtrack for 2005 film The Proposition will receive a first vinyl release on November 2nd.
The now modern classic ‘western', written by Nick Cave and directed by John Hillcoat, starred Guy Pearce, Danny Huston, Ray Winstone, Emily Watson and John Hurt in a violent epic set in the arid outback, based on bushrangers - the outlaws of nineteenth century Australia.
The score was the first collaboration for film between Cave and Ellis, a member of The Bad Seeds and Grinderman, as well the frontman of instrumental rock trio The Dirty Three. They have since created soundtracks to 'The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford’, ‘Dias de Gracia’, ‘Lawless’ ‘Loin des Hommes’, ‘Hell Or High Water’, ‘Wind River’ and ‘Kings’.
The soundtrack features Ellis’ violin to the fore, evoking the folk sound of the film’s 1880s setting, plus fragments of church hymns and abstract avant-folk drones, haunting ballads, soft chamber pieces, whispered laments. There are also more traditional songs including ‘The Rider Song’ and ‘Clean Hands, Dirty Hands’ which lend a note of healing musical balm to the film’s bittersweet, blood-spattered finale.
With music intimate and epic, stark and rich, it is a score that works both as a standalone record and evocative sonic landscape to a screen gem.
“I always heard it musically, and I guess it’s written rhythmically as well,” Cave explained in 2005, “It’s very similar to the way my band operates. There are moments of intense violence and there are also moments of long, lyrical, quiet sadness.”
The Proposition OST will be released on special gold vinyl in a gatefold sleeve via Mute / BMG.
