For a 66 year old iconic performer who has been professionally
active for close to half a century, the album title STILL is an ironic timely
reminder that there’s plenty of juice left in the string tank of Richard
Thompson. Never a person to rest on his laurels, this much lauded artist has
continued to push personal boundaries and for this latest project he has hooked
up with pioneering alt-country musician Jeff Tweedy to deliver a record packed
to the hilt with Richard Thompson traits. So expect an artisan at work
stretching his finger picking muscles, a master lyricist outpouring his
thoughts and a distinctive vocalist appealing to tuned-in ears.
Perhaps in order of universal acclaim the first of these three traits probably exceeds the third and if you are relatively new to his talents, the
guitar playing is advisably the first port of call. Having witnessed Richard
play live a few times, it is impossible to feel anything but mightily
impressed, whether the performance is acoustic or electric, or band or solo.
The tour to support the release of the new album hits the UK towards the end of
the summer via the festivals, before moving onto the nations’ grand halls and is
billed as the trio format. No doubt many long term fans will lap up the Richard
Thompson classics but the tracks from the new album will stand up well to live
scrutiny.
Under the production guidance of the ex- Uncle
Tupelo and Wilco frontman Tweedy, all twelve tracks purvey an air of high quality
consistency with just enough diversity in style to eliminate the complacency of
similarity. From a personal perspective the production numbers with a little
more tempo surface as the key moments on the record, probably because they
allow the guitar playing to be more prominent and showcase what Richard
Thompson does best. Therefore ‘All
Buttoned Up’, ‘Long John Silver’
and ‘Patty Don’t You Put Me Down’
hold more credence through the early listens than the more complex tunes like ‘Broken Doll’ and ‘Josephine’. However
individual mood will dictate personal preference and omnipresent merit is in
evidence to enhance the choice.
A pan Atlantic appeal has long been attached to Richard
Thompson. Lengthy stints living in the US, eventual lifetime recognition by the
Americana Music Association and the fact that this album was recorded in
Chicago reaffirm one half of this assertion. However Thompson will always
remain a quintessential British folk rock legend and this firmly underpins all
acclaim. There is a chance that die hard folk fans will latch onto ‘Pony in the Stable’ and the engaging
album opener ‘She Never Could Resist a
Winding Road’. On the other hand, ‘Dungeons
for Eyes’ has the potential to raise eyebrows of those seeking a touch of
Americana.
Lyrically, the album peaks in the second track, with the enigmatic
‘Beatnik Walking’ referencing Amsterdam
and its associates alongside Mr Murdoch’s news. A serious case for the musical
high is the album’s climax and a near eight minute track aptly named ‘Guitar Heroes’. If the initial irony of
this record was in the title, the fact that Thompson indulges in a track paying
homage to his heroes belies the notion that he himself is a hero to so many.
Anyhow few will begrudge the acclaim laid at the feet of Django Reinhardt, Chuck Berry, Les
Paul and The Shadows in this outage of personal tribute.
There is a regal grandeur about Richard Thompson as an
artist and STILL is yet another chapter in a career full of influential highs.
There is no sign of the stellar work flowing from his guitar letting up, as
well as opportunities to savour his talents. With every new release from a
legendary older artist, there is the increasing opportunity for the younger
generation to latch on and this could prove to be the lasting legacy of
Thompson’s 2015 release.
www.richardthompson-music.com