Linda Thompson - Proxy Music

  by Zena Grieg

published: 29 / 10 / 2024

---

London-born, Glasgow-raised singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician Linda Thompson has come out with a distinctive, novel format for her new album. No longer able to sing due to a rare vocal condition (spasmodic dysphonia), Thompson, ex-wife and fellow musician of Fairport Convention co-founder Richard Thompson, and her son and co-producer Teddy Thompson chose a number of friends and fellow artists to provide their own versions of new songs by the songwriter, bringing them to life in a multifaceted way. Songs to listen out for in this eleven-track collection include: the opener, lead single ‘The Solitary Traveller’ by her daughter Kami, a defiant waltz against misogyny, championing resilience: “I’m alone now, you think I’d be sad/No voice, no son, no man to be had/You’re as wrong as can be boys/I’m solvent and free boys/all my troubles are gone”; the gentle, emotive piano ballad ‘Or Nothing At All’ on unrequited love, performed by Martha Wainwright; a striking rendition of the traditional-style ‘Bonnie Lass’ by The Proclaimers; Rufus Wainwright’s interpretation of ‘Darling This Will Never Do’ with its swing jive; plaintive ‘I Used To Be So Pretty’ with its unforgiving lyrics, featuring former husband Richard Thompson on guitar and harmonium and vocals by Ren Harvieu; the tender ‘John Grant’ sung by ex-Czars frontman John Grant, featuring a real encounter with Thompson; Americana singer Dori Freeman’s rendition of ‘Shores Of America’, about a pioneer woman leaving behind a faithless partner in the Old World, bringing Thompson’s acerbic humour to the fore: “… if its’s true/That only the good die young/Lucky old you/’Cause you’ll be around until kingdom come”; the exuberant ‘That’s The Way The Polka Goes’ with its vibrant fiddle-playing and vocals by English folk musician Eliza Carthy; and the closer ‘Those Damn Roches’ about music dynasties, with a wry reference to the Thompsons themselves. Infused with Thompson’s warm, dry humour and reflective lyrics, ‘Proxy Music is a moving living tribute to a highly talented musician.

Track Listing:-

1 The Solitary Traveller
2 Or Nothing At All
3 Bonnie Lass
4 Darling This Will Never Do
5 I Used To Be So Pretty
6 John Grant
7 Mudlark
8 Shores Of America
9 That's The Way The Polka Goes
10 Three Shaky Ships
11 Those Damn Roches

Band Links:-

https://lindathompsonmusic.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Thompson_(singer)

Play in YouTube:-

Have a Listen:-

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg