rev_m_knopfler

MARK KNOPFLER
Sailing To Philadelphia

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, December 31, 2008

It was Phoenix in the morning, I had a wake up call...

Mark Knopfler has been around the track a time or two. Since the first moments I heard that unique touch of a stratocaster on the Dire Straits classic, ‘Sultan’s of Swing’, I knew this guy was going to be making his mark (pardon the pun) on the world of music in a significant way. Well, more than two decades later, he certainly has done that, and here releases what I consider his finest collection of work to date.

The tunes on ‘Sailing to Philadelphia’ are as engaging, as powerful and a varied as it can get. Mark’s less-is-more style is now fully matured and he displays the wisdom of knowing when to leave space in the music. Even in his guitar riff laden classics with the Dire Straits he had shown a prudence of knowing when not to play. This is a quality that takes time for ‘guitar heroes’ to cultivate, and Knopfler shows that he’s learned that lesson well, as the arrangements here have enough space to let his guitar speak its finest moments powerfully and they are all the more effective for it.

But Knopfler has also matured in his songwriting and vocal ability, evolving it in it’s capabilities while accepting his natural limitations in range. He has a comforting, friendly voice.... one that doesn’t try to sing... but rather delivers phrases, and does so quite eloquently. He has developed a love for story-telling in his songs as he has aged, and they totally work for his laid-back, genuine persona.

But in the end, it’s Mark’s distinctive guitar that we most love to hear and he steps out wonderfully in these song. Mark’s playing contains such a freedom and spontaneity quality that it leaves one to believe the record could have been made in one take. Mark’s individuality is instantly recognizable... the magic of his playing is such that after a few seconds there is no doubt in anyone’s mind who is playing the instrument.

There’’s lots of variety on this album: every song has a unique mood, my favorite being ‘Speedway to Nazareth’, an amazingly powerful tune that just builds in anticipation until it just explodes with raw power at the extended ending. Starting with an humble acoustic beginning for considerable duration, he ultimately creates an immense sound of deafening race car engines as the music builds. Awesome. It’s one of his best, as is ‘Sands of Nevada’, and infectious narration that selectively adds instrumentation hovering on a pregnant verse until the chorus finally breaks through.

Effective use of dynamic range is thoroughly understood by this artist.

There’s a couple of great blues tunes, ‘Junkie Doll’ is probably destined to be Knopfler classic. ‘Silvertown Blues’ is a great uptempo thing, very reminiscent of previous Dire Straits stuff that defies one to sit still. I also love ‘Prarie Wedding’ and the riff laden ‘What It Is’ that again serves to reminds us that no one plays guitar like Mark Knopfler. That trademark touch is all over it.

Most importantly, ‘Sailing to Philadelphia’ showcases Knopfler as a mature songwriter of the first order. He’s released several excellent albums following up this one so perhaps we have yet to see his true masterpiece... but this one comes a close as any. It’s great music.

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