Proxy Music

Last updated

Proxy Music
Proxy Music.png
Studio album by
Linda Thompson and various artists
Released21 June 2024 (2024-06-21)
Studio
Length39:46
Label Storysound
Producer Teddy Thompson
Linda Thompson chronology
Family
(2014)
Proxy Music
(2024)

Proxy Music is an album of songs composed by British singer Linda Thompson performed by various artists, released on 21 June 2024 through Storysound Records. The album includes new songs written by Thompson performed by musicians including her daughter Kami, her son Teddy, and her ex-husband Richard Thompson, due to Linda's spasmodic dysphonia, which prevents her from being able to sing. It received positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Title and cover art

The album cover is a parody of the cover for Roxy Music's 1972 self-titled debut album, with its title also being a play on that of the band's name, as artists are performing songs composed by Thompson for her by proxy. [1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 86/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [6]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Uncut 9/10 [7]

Proxy Music received a score of 86 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on nine critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim". [2] Record Collector 's Nick Dalton found it to be "almost like one of those all-star tribute albums, except that this isn't a trawl through past glories and [Linda] was very much involved in its creation with folk-rocking son Teddy Thompson, who produced. There's an ethereal feel, something that transcends the boundaries of folk, a gentleness yet something more, helped by the guitar of Richard." [1] Mojo called it "a fabulous record" and "a unique kind of Various Artists tribute album" without "a bad one among" its tracks, concluding that it is "in all, delightful". [4]

Uncut felt that "Thompson's writing gives this stellar cast plenty to work with, her wit rising to such meta conceits as 'John Grant', on which John Grant sings of Thompson's fondness for him, and 'Those Damn Roches', on which Teddy Thompson conveys the tempestuousness of musical dynasties – including his (and his mum's) own." [7] John Murphy of MusicOMH wrote that "despite the sad circumstances behind the album, there's a wicked sense of humour snaking through these songs", which he described as "a celebration of one of folk's most talented figures" and "great to hear that Linda Thompson has found her voice again, with a little help from her friends". [5] Andy Cush of Pitchfork found that "the music [...] could fit onto any of those classic '70s records" she made with Richard, "with stately acoustic instrumentation and melodies that wind patiently without flashy pop hooks. Her sensibility as a lyricist is informed by the folk tradition, and she writes often about the sort of heartbreak and regret that also characterized her songs with Richard." [6]

Track listing

Proxy Music track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."The Solitary Traveller" Kami Thompson 4:03
2."Or Nothing at All"
Martha Wainwright 4:23
3."Bonnie Lass"
The Proclaimers 3:18
4."Darling This Will Never Do"
  • L. Thompson
  • T. Thompson
Rufus Wainwright 3:10
5."I Used to Be So Pretty"L. Thompson Ren Harvieu 3:14
6."John Grant"
John Grant3:41
7."Mudlark"
  • L. Thompson
  • Walbourne
The Rails 3:18
8."Shores of America"L. Thompson Dori Freeman 2:51
9."That's the Way the Polka Goes"
Eliza Carthy3:33
10."Three Shaky Ships"
The Unthanks 4:02
11."Those Damn Roches"
  • L. Thompson
  • T. Thompson
Teddy Thompson4:13
Total length:39:46

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Proxy Music
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [8] 19
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [9] 72
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [10] 6

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dalton, Nick (17 June 2024). "Proxy Music". Record Collector . Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Proxy Music by Linda Thompson Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. Spencer, Neil (21 June 2024). "Linda Thompson: Proxy Music review – rueful songs of love and ageing with an all-star cast". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Various artists – Proxy Music". Mojo . August 2024. p. 80.
  5. 1 2 Murphy, John (20 June 2024). "Linda Thompson – Proxy Music | Album Reviews". MusicOMH . Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 Cush, Andy (26 June 2024). "Linda Thompson: Proxy Music Album Reviews". Pitchfork . Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Various artists – Proxy Music". Uncut . July 2024. p. 39.
  8. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  9. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  10. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 June 2024.