Richard Thompson - 'Electric'

At the end of last year I mentioned that I was looking forward to 'Electric' the forthcoming album from Richard Thompson. It has been two years since his last effort 'Dream Attic' which although being a new collection off songs, was recorded totally live with no studio overdubs. Whilst I can only admire the quality of the musicianship, I have to confess that the album is not among my favourites in the Richard Thompson collection. In truth, it is an album I have rarely returned to since its release in 2010.

I doubt that this will be the case with 'Electric' as Thompson has delivered a very strong guitar driven album with, as one would expect, great songs. Produced in Nashville by Buddy Miller, the band is essentially a trio (Thompson on guitar, Taras Prodaniuk on bass and Michael Jerome on drums) but the sound is brilliantly fleshed out by some guest musicians and vocalists. These include Alison Krauss, Siobhan Maher Kennedy and bluegrass fiddler, Stuart Duncan.



I understand that for the forthcoming tour to promote the album, Thompson will rely on the trio format. What's this? Richard Thompson leading a powerhouse trio of guitar, bass and drums? Is he trying to do a Cream or a Hendrix?

Well not exactly but he certainly rocks out on album opener 'Stony Ground' and on track three, 'Sally B'. Sandwiched between these is the more sedate 'Salford Sunday' which has a melody so sublime that Thompson uses this for his guitar parts also. The ballad 'My Enemy' sounds like it could almost be an early Kate Bush composition but I believe  'Another Small Thing in her Favour', could only have been written by Thompson. A beautiful melancholy ballad but with touches of Thompson's wry humour, it also features a spine tingling guitar solo. There are lots of styles thrown into this record ranging from folk to blues to good old rock 'n' roll but throughout Thompson plays superb guitar as always. It doesn't seem to matter what style he is playing, the result is always distinctively Richard Thompson. Buddy Miller claimed that he received a two week guitar lesson while Thompson camped out at his home during the recording of the album.

Alison Krauss lends her voice to the acoustic ballad 'The Snow Goose' before the album closes with the jaunty 'Saving The Good Stuff For You'.

Described by Thompson as folk-funk, this album certainly allows him and his band to stretch out into different styles. I think it's a winner and I look forward to hearing selections from it played live when I see them in March.