THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Revered British singer-songwriter Linda Thompson’s latest project — the aptly named Proxy Music — features artists who were handpicked by Linda and her son (and album co-producer) Teddy Thompson to record a new set of her tunes by proxy.
Thompson has limited singing capabilities now due to a rare vocal condition known as spasmodic dysphonia. So Proxy Music — here first album in more than 10 years — impressively showcases her songwriting range and prowess. Tracks like Darling This Will Never Do and Mudlark hold a timeless quality, while Those Damn Roches and John Grant (sung by John Grant himself) boast very modern sensibilities. Proxy Music contains performances from longtime friends and admirers like Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Eliza Carthy, The Proclaimers, Dori Freeman and Grant, along with many talented Thompsons, including her children Teddy and Kami, and her ex-husband Richard Thompson playing guitar on several tracks. “Music in my family,” Thompson shares. “It’s like glue. It binds us.”
Lead single Solitary Traveller featuring the vocals of daughter Kami. Reflecting on the essence of the song, Linda muses, “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been one. But, if you have a lot of people in your life, you sometimes yearn for solitude. Conversely, solitary people often crave company. It is a bit of a dichotomy.” The album’s “proxy” theme extends seamlessly to its artwork, which features Thompson recreating Roxy Music‘s debut albumcover, showcasing her often-overlooked sense of humor.
Thompson entered the London folk scene in the late ’60s, initially releasing singles under her maiden name Linda Peters. However, it was her marriage to Richard Thompson that propelled her to wider acclaim, beginning with their landmark album, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. Their collaboration continued with a series of lauded releases, culminating in the iconic Shoot Out The Lights in 1982. Since then, Linda has released four solo albums, including Dreams Fly Away, Fashionably Late, Versatile Heart and Won’t Be Long Now, before her vocal condition hindered further projects.”
