Tag: 5/4AP

Well then… if you listened to our interview with Alan Prosser backstage at Cropredy you will already know that Alan alluded to the fact that he would be sending me a copy of his new solo album 5/4AP where every song and instrumental was going to be in 5/4 time. I’m pleased to report that the man was good to his word, and the little beauty has now arrived in the post so I’ve finally been able to get my lughole’s around it and given it a spin.

I’m sure you all know, that Alan Prosser is a founding member of Oysterband, a really nice all-round bloke, a gigging musician for 45 years who has collaborated with the likes of The Albion Band, June Tabor, Brendan Power, Lucy Randall, Tim Edey, Chumbawamba and a host of other fiendishly good folk folk.

Alan told me that the album is a kind of homage to an EP made by Davy Graham and Alexis Korner called 3/4 AD that inspired him as a lad. He went on to say that he thinks the new records format may be a first, in the fact that no other artist or band have attempted a whole album in 5/4. It’s clever as well, as it does not throw you in at the deep end as the opening track ‘Ridingate’ is an instrumental that gently eases you in to the concept of the album and whispers promises of greatness through its famous Canterbury road gate.

There is a lot going in the second track “Simple Is Never Easy’, think ‘The Jasmine Corridor’ on Ian Anderson’s ‘The Secret Language Of Birds’ shaking hands (or rubbing elbows) with early Jethro Tull ‘Stand Up” era at a 1960’s Psychedelia convention promoting harmony and love for couples. Doctor Prosser then administrates another shot of ‘Ridingate’, a reprise this time to calm us down before having to deal with the fourth track, ‘Suicide Bomber’ with its stunning guitar playing and Keith James-esque ‘Lorca’ vocal work as the piece hurtling towards its fanatical conclusion. The format continues with another instrumental ‘Out Of Kent’, then a skippy-ditty little vocal number called ‘Amy Isn’t Waiting’ which for me, still left the narrative cheerful, even though Amy didn’t turn up. The ‘Stour Water’ instrumental follows and then ‘Mikey’s Song’ written for a previous Oysterband sound engineer which brought to mind the Pentangle influence which was another one of Alan’s inspirations for making this album.

‘Five For You’, a solo gig favourite follows which is a homage to ‘Take Five’ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. To close, the album troops its colours to the name given to the average soldier in the first word war, Tommy Atkin as it closes with ‘Tommy Atkin’s March’.

The album was mastered by Al Scott (who also produces Oysterband) and it’s a fascinating project with monster playing by Alan and clever arrangements. Who would have thought that a whole album in 5/4 could be so diverse? Top job Mr. Prosser!

Darren Beech

Artist’s website: http://www.oysterband.co.uk

We can’t find a video from the new album yet but here’s a taster of Alan’s playing: