Richard Thompson: Rumor and Sigh (Capitol) ***½

AN EXCEPTIONAL guitarist whose memorable songs have been widely covered, Richard Thompson is — more than twenty years into the personal odyssey that outlines his solo career — both the embodiment of British folk rock and its most prominent refugee. Steeped in tradition but no longer defined by it, he remains true to his idiosyncrasies, sharing provocative character studies and frank insights without concern for parochial stylistic sensibilities.