RICHARD THOMPSON
Acoustic Classics Vol II 8/10
Following 2014’s opening volume, Thompson again offers up a fireside seat as he takes his acoustic guitar, endlessly dextrous fingers and peerless back catalogue for a spin. It’s an unalloyed treat. For all the thrill of his extended excursions on a Fender Strat, there’s something fundamentally satisfying about Thompson unplugged. His voice gets more expressive with age, while his song choices – from Fairport staples (“Genesis Hall”, “Crazy Man Michael”) to mid-period classics (a heartbreaking “A Heart Needs A Home” and tender “Why Must I Plead”) and relative obscurities (brooding takes on “Pharaoh” and “Gethsemane”) – throw fresh light and cast new shadows.