Richard Thompson (from the album Ship to Shore

Richard Thompson (from the album Ship to Shore

Richard Thompson (from the album Ship to Shore available on New West Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
It’s hard to imagine an artist who’d more direct, distinctive, witty, and pithy than Richard Thompson. Bred during the British Folk revival of the mid- to late 1960s courtesy of his extended stint in the band Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson went on to create a remarkable solo career — first with his ex-wife Linda Thompson and, for the past 40 years or so, wholly on his own. He specializes in the unexpected and brings with him music that’s consistently unexpected and unique to his own occasionally curmudgeonly world view.
 
While Thompson’s sound tends to be tauter than tender — at least on first encounter — he never strays far from his insights into basic human emotions. That said, he’s often gone about his efforts in curious ways — as exemplified by the delusional woman at the heart of “From Galway to Graceland” or his view of life’s perils as described by the rollercoaster ride shared in “Wall of Death”. Indeed, any encounter with Thompson’s work overall tends to put the listener on his or her toes and well aware of the menace and mayhem that generally serves as his muse.

Ship to Shore is no exception, and while certain songs demand repeated listens to gain the full impact, Thompson’s tenacity still comes through. His gruff vocals offer an initial indication, but so too, the auspicious tribal rhythms that underscore “The Fear Never Leaves You” and “The Old Pack Mule” serve to enhance some ominous overtones. The ruggedly assertive “Singapore Sadie” and the decidedly demonstrative “The Day That I Give In” create a commanding presence that pervades the effort overall.

That’s not to say Richard Thompson doesn’t have his moments of levity. The sheer Rock and Roll regalia of “Turnstile Casanova” and “Maybe” is as compelling as anything Thompson’s ever offered, just as the chugalug pacing driving “Trust” ensure an instant connection. “Lost in the Ground” is equally emphatic — testy but triumphant in equal measure. They’re typical Thompson — a bit tongue-in-cheek perhaps, but emphatic nonetheless. He is occasionally troubling as well when, in the midst of the driving delivery found in “What’s Left to Lose”, he begs the question ‘what do I do to kill the ache, how many draughts of comfort do I take?’.
 
On the other hand, the steady and assured closing track “We Roll” offers a hint of some unexpected sentiment in the form of an ode to the tireless troubadour whose devotion to the road is drawn from a desire to put food on the table and make a living the only way he knows how. ‘We hope we brought you some joy’ he declares, forging some obvious affection.

Indeed, you have, RT. Indeed, you have. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Richard Thompson from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Richard Thompson website