After frequently expressing his displeasure with bootlegging of his live shows,
Richard Thompson has taken on the profitable and rewarding sideline of issuing recordings culled from his concert tours, and
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor was assembled from several shows recorded during a series of American East Coast dates in the fall of 1999, as
Thompson and his band were supporting the album
Mock Tudor. Featuring eight tunes from
Mock Tudor, and five others from his back catalog,
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor offers up a strong set list (though that's not especially surprising, at least if one is familiar with the album they were supporting), and
Thompson and company are in typically splendid form.
Thompson's effortlessly amazing guitar work is on prominent display throughout, with the high speed twists and turns of "Cooksferry Queen," and the sinuous jitter of "Two Face Love" sounding particularly remarkable in this context.
Thompson's vocal readings are especially passionate on
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor, making the most of a terrific set of songs, and as always, he's brought a crack set of sidemen along with him; with bassist
Danny Thompson and drummer
Michael Jerome stacking up as one of
Thompson's finest rhythm sections ever, and
Thompson's son
Teddy Thompson adding lovely harmonies on several numbers. Anyone who has ever seen
Richard Thompson live knows that the man never disappoints an audience, and fans who either missed this tour, or are looking for an aural reminder of what they heard, will want to make room for
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor in their collection. (
Semi-Detached Mock Tudor has been released by
Thompson's boutique label Beeswing Records.) ~ Mark Deming