Alum review: Linda Thompson, Won’t be Long Now (Topic)

A first outing since 2007’s Versatile Heart, and there’s been no discernible falling off. The voice will never return to its pre-dysphonic mobility, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a highly expressive instrument of significant tone – mournful, knowing and creased with experience.

The arrangements are instrumentally small, as is suitable, with lots of space to allow the voice to breathe (besides, daughter Kami and Eliza Carthy are on hand to do some heavy lifting). And Richard’s on it, accompanying her solo on the funny-bleak “Love’s For Babies and Fools”.

The songs? A mixture of her own compositions, covers, and co-compositions with son Teddy and Ron Sexsmith. Messrs Mansfield, Swarbrick and Carthy are also in da parlour.