Opener 'Read About Love' provides an electric-start jolt, its upbeat tempos, shimmering accents, and massive hooks framing Thompson's amusing story of an inexperienced introvert that applies pop-culture ideas of romance to the real thing. The album's sonic signatures and themes claim a similar diversity.

On SACD, it and the other 13 tracks take on newfound radiance that showcases the brilliant range of Thompson's instrumentation and tone.

This audiphile version makes it immediately evident Rumor and Sigh endures as a very special album – a cohesive, varied, and fun set spiked with some of Thompson's finest compositions and an exoticism that extends to the modest use of the hurdy-gurdy, mandolin, concertina, and crumhorn.Ĭasual fans will likely even recognize the Mitchell Froom-produced release includes the incomparable '1952 Vincent Black Lightning,' a motorcycle-based tale of desire, love, and death rightly recognized by TIME magazine as one of its All TIME 100 songs. Mastered from the original master tapes and strictly limited to 2,000 numbered copies, this hybrid SACD breathes with an effervescent openness that makes the music emerge with a livelier sheen, standout dynamics, and unstoppable energy. But Rumor and Sigh goes further by featuring astute, lively production and well-planned arrangements that turn the 1991 album into the most cohesive and accessible efforts of Thompson's storied career. Engaging vocals that arrive as if they are sung only to you, the words doubling as whispered thoughts in your own head? Yep. Lyrics that expose the delicate quirks of human behavior in witty, truthful manners? Here. Rippled, vibrant guitar lines that sound like they're coming from four guitars? Check. Richard Thompson manages all of his usual superhuman feats on Rumor and Sigh.

The Most Cohesive and Accessible Album of Richard Thompson's Career: Brilliantly Diverse, Savagely Witty Rumor and Sigh Includes All TIME 100 Song '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' Mastered from the Original Master Tapes and Strictly Limited to 2,000 Numbered Copies: Mobile Fidelity's Hybrid SACD of Rumor and Sigh Features Lively Production by Mitchell Froom and Standout Dynamics

Richard thompson rumor and sigh rar