Mark Knopfler Reflects on the Past

The theme of a deep flowing river, which is sort of a captivating metaphor for a happy home bathed in the setting sun, meanders through the album in a lazy rhythm through the colourful and majestic melodies that Knopfler presents with his ageless, omniscient voice. Many of the songs are reminiscent of the magical storytelling skills of J.J. Cale or Johnny Cash whose masterful performances speak right to your soul.

From the first bars of the opening track "Two Pairs Of Hands", it is clear that the Knopfler school of guitar playing still has a lot to say. The choppy guitar lines boast a typical Dire Straits tone, and the following track "Ahead Of The Game" has a similarly playful rockabilly rhythm with a rumbling bass. The country song "Smart Money" with its steel pedal, precise solo and piano accompaniment could go down in any campfire songbook, as could the waltz ballad "Black Tie Jobs" with its haunting melodic line.

In the blues-rock "Scavengers Yard", Mark picks up the electric guitar to prove that he hasn't lost any of his groove as a player. The botched robbery of a mail train, in which the d'Autremont brothers blew up the train in a tunnel, is captivatingly recounted in "Tunnel 13", while the slow melodies of "Janine", "Watch Me Gone", the closing title track "One Deep River" and especially the "Sweeter Than The Rain", featuring a mystical guitar accompaniment, let the music speak for itself.

What can musicians appreciate about the album?

Mark Knopfler has aged, but his songs carry a similar message to the timeless work of Johnny Cash in his late period. He combines elegant guitar accompaniments, restrained melodic lines and wistful vocals with sombre meditations on life with roots in classic Americana, sounding humble and poignant. At the end of the millennium, Mark Knopfler has found a style that suits him and in which he feels at home.

Mark Knopfler – One Deep River

Universal Music, 00:51:51

country/folk/blues rock

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