ALBUM REVIEW: Thompson ‘Family’

Teddy Thompson persuades folk legend parents, Richard and Linda to unite on a family collaboration.
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With a story telling genre such as folk, it was easy for Teddy Thompson and his clan to express their trials and tribulations in collaborative album ‘Family’. Once a legendary duo his parents, Richard and Linda drifted away to pursue solo careers after the breakdown of their marriage. Son Teddy took it upon himself to arrange some family therapy in the form of a reunion album, and the Thompsons were united once again.

Using the talent of only immediate family, each member has created a real mix of folksy sounds, contributing their bit to the ten-track collection. Teddy being the middle child who is “unsure who to be”, compares himself to Sean Lennon, stuck between two equally famous parents, whilst still trying to battle for his own spotlight, in opening title track.

There are many elements to ‘Family’ and the dynamics change with each member’s contribution. For example, daughter Kami brings a country element in to the mix with upbeat ‘Careful’, along with Teddy’s country rock effort ‘Right’. The harmonies and guitar leads almost change the genre of the album with Teddy’s vocals yodeling over a blues baseline.

On the other hand you hear a maternal response from his mother, Linda on ‘Bonny Boys’, where she sings with a heartfelt encouragement for her son. “Don’t go with jezebel’s they’ll lead you straight to hell, find a girl whose heart is not for sale”. Along with the intricate fretwork, Linda’s approach is more mellow and traditional in folk style.

‘Root So Bitter’ balances elaborate guitar with rather laid back singing. The vocals are in no way technical, but considering the genre, it fits perfectly well. Thematically, the song feels like a rivalry between two people, like he is trying to find peace with someone. “You set out the raven, I set out the dove/I’ve got you back again, I’m bowing at your feet”. It seems that all his efforts are not being matched.

The mandolin solo in ‘Times Are Tough’ give the song an Irish twist and liven up the mellower ballads. It is a more serious piece and feels like the father’s wise words to his family. ‘Times are tough, that’s enough.” The individuality of each track could pay homage to the individual solo successes of some members and though they have come together to create ‘Family’ as a group, it still feels like a very individual effort from each person.

‘At The Feet Of The Emperor’ is full of shoe gazing, dreamy guitar. The atmospheric instrumental sounds like you have caught them jamming accidently, but in the best possible way.

‘I Long For Lonely’ has beautiful harmonies and finishes the album with a real sense of family unity, with Thompson, Kami and her husband James playing together. Kami sings about “the husband, the baby, the dog and the cat” all getting too much for their small surroundings. She longs for lonely.

The album as a whole gives us a real insight in to the older generation’s life experiences and the advice they give to the younger generations, who in turn aim to create unity and belonging again to the once lost but now found family unit that is the Thompsons.

 

Natasha Moran

@NatashaMoran

Tash Moran

Tash Moran

Leicester based writer and photographer