Private
Allister Thompson : Compilation (Can,2001)****
I rarely heard a new singer-songwriter good over the whole line and sounding poetic too. This compilation is my favourite album.
Lawrence Woolfe made a review of this highly recommended compilation :
"Allister Thompson is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is not afraid of the big themes that many in the s/sw genre seem to ignore in favor of introspective self-obsession. Now this collection is both a surprise and a revelation. All the voices and instruments are by Thompson, using guitars and various electronic, ambient textures. The songs are melodically strong and beautifully sung. The big themes (the purpose of life, inhumanity alienation,our effect on the planet by our uncaring ignorent attitude towards the environment, mysticism and so on) are dealt with in a quiet, intelligent manner rather that passionate hysteries, and thus come over powerfully in a meditative way. Quiet honestly I was overwelmed by this CD from my first listen. From the opener "Judgement Day" through such songs as "21st Century Anthem" with rich and frightingly relevant descriptions of humanities current predicament-having to get used to the loss and betrayal of dreams of utopia, of hope, of a soulful existence. "Galaxies turn" reflects on how small we are against the wondrous immensity of space and of course what it and we mean to each other. Other noticable tracks include "Sleepless", "Pastorale", "When we were young", "Seperation" and the most folk influenced song from this CD "Distant Voices", and "My Name is Death". There isn't a bad track on this CD however and I would recommend anyone to check it out -anyone with a human disposition that is."
L.Woolfe
Reviews from his other releases (without grading) by Lawrence Woolfe :
Private Allister Thompson : Distant Voices (CAN,2001?)***
"Having discovered A.Thompson through his recent compilation CD (released 2002 -see first review-) I was more than curious as to how his debut CD "Distant Voices" would sound having seen it described as his folkiest work. Apart from the Leon Rosselson cover "The world turned upside down", a rendition of Sandy Denny "It'll take a long time" (,an excellent sensitive version) and a traditional song "the blackleg miner" which was part of Steeleye's Spans repertoire in the early 70's, all the songs are written by Thompson. A very fine collection of songs they are too. The songs are more singer songwriter with folk references than folk, but then no matter how one describes them, they certainly look back to a time (early 70's) when acoustic backed singers with stories to recite were an accepted & respected part of the musical landscape. This is a solo collection -no other musician involved, with acoustic & electric, percussion and the textural effects. Thompson sings with a quiet undemonstrative sureness that ensures that the contents are clearly projected. Songs that stand out to me are "St.George's Hill" (follows on from the Rosselson song perfectly), "Pastorale", "Soldier (El Alamein"), "The drowned girl" and "My name is death" but there isn't any track that sends me rushing to fast forward. From the start to finish it maintains interest. As an aside, there are too many examples of folk s/s music where the words are everything and the music is basic and bland. In this case the music and lyrics balance beautifully. Incidentally by making a connection with the seemingly halcyon days of folk and singer-songwriters, I do not imply that this cd is an anachronism. On the contrary. In fact this cd is healthily relevant to us now, with its consciousness and subject matters, its politics, its sense of humanity, its stark haunting musical beauty. Thoroughly recommended. " L.W.
Private Allister Thompson : Astronomy (CAN,2001?)****
Thompson's second cd follows quickly from Distant Voices and was recorded between April and June 2001, so there must have been material stockpiled awaiting recording. Certainly the folk influence is minimal and the sound firmly singer-songwriter with ambient/spacy atmospheres. Big themes as the title suggests are explored and mused over in a very approachable manner with wonderfully emotive melodic singing against acoustic and electric guitar forming the core of the whole cd. Notable tracks are the superb opening track "Judgement Day", "Sleepless", "Seperation", "The new age" and the bonus track "When we were young". Several of the songs appeared on the compilation album (reviewed elsewhere) and it should come as no surprise that this has become overall my favorite cd. For contemplative souls everywhere, anywhere." L.W.
Private Allister Thompson : The future has passed(CAN,,2001?)**°
"Everything I've already said holds true by and large with the 3rd cd, recorded late summer/early autumn 2001 (3 albums in less than a year !). Strangely enough for a collection of songs that contains Thompson most distinct and original contemplations on his quest for the meaning in life, the environment we have created and destroyed around us ("nature, city scapes, our place beneath/ in the vast scheme of things") it also contains a couple lighterweight musical efforts which whilst supporting the lyric content I can quite happily live without musically namely "I own you" and "hello I am famous". There is also for the first time use of drum machine which I find less than satisfactory on "blind statue" (although I like the idea and the timbre of the voice, initially reminding me for some reason of Roy Harper) and " the great engineer" (again I like the idea, the music and voice dub from the late Richard Burton and the use of Latin text) but quibbles aside, there are a number of majestic magnificent musical and lyrical statements. Check out "21st Century Anthem", "Galaxies Turn", "The strength of two". L.W.
