Linda Thompson - Proxy Music

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