Richard Thompson - Dream Attic

New tunes unveiled in concert

Live albums are traditionally awash with big hits and crowd-pleasers, but Thompson has opted for a more novel approach. His first collection of new material since 2007’s Sweet Warrior finds him backed by a full electric band and debuting the songs in front of audiences on a brief US tour earlier this year, each fresh ode to the human condition punctuated by lusty applause.

Lyrically, Thompson revisits several familiar themes, from picture postcards of bygone times (the 60s-set Demons In Her Dancing Shoes) to caustic studies of corporate ogres (The Money Shuffle), from delicate arcane balladry (Among The Gorse, Among The Grey) to rousing tales of personal struggle (Haul Me Up). He goes straight for the funny bone on Here Comes Geordie, a pun-filled frolic that puzzles over both Sting’s Johnny-come-lately folk credentials and his questionable thespian talent.

If there is a reservation, it’s that the live setting means Thompson can’t resist over-extending his guitar solos; brilliantly played they might be, but they benefit more from the economy of the acoustic demo versions on the second disc of the limited edition release. All is forgiven, however, with the song that will surely emerge as the album’s classic and a fan favourite for years to come, A Brother Slips Away, in which Thompson laments the recent passing of close friends, clearly nodding in the direction of John Martyn and Davey Graham.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Proper | CD 064 (2-CD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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