Mark Knopfler: Tracker
Mark Knopfler
Tracker
(Verve)
A tight snare drum beat slips under âLaughs and Jokes and Drinks and Smokes,â the sea shanty of a song (the penny whistle, violin and the plopping upright bass feed the sing-along chorus into this kind of a vibe) that opens Mark Knopflerâs new album, Tracker. âBasilâ follows, a song of soft acoustic guitar and Knopflerâs limited but expressive vocals telling the story of the British poet Basil Buntingâs life of loneliness. Here we get the first little tickle of what Mark Knopfler executes like very few electric guitar rock heroes: subtle, well-placed, simple, few note leads that slice right through your guts. What a picture his lyrics and playing evoke!
Thereâs lots of acoustic playing throughout (this eighth studio album of Knopflerâs is not hard rocking at all), including expert acoustic noodling opening up the love-lost vibe of âLong Cool Girlâ (Has this feeling of wanting from âRomeo and Julietâ come back to haunt us?) with perfect, mournful pull-backs of electric bends, creating a beautiful song. âSilver Eagleâ features studied finger picking and single killer piano notes and âMighty Manâ has atmospherics behind it, accordion and a sweet, low vocal before the full breath of little licks of electric lead.
There is a flangy guitar and slide bending, organ stop and go (played by Knopflerâs longtime collaborator/keyboardist Guy Fletcher, who is brilliant throughout) conga beats to the rich âLights Of Taorminaâ and a pretty duet between Knopfler and Ruth Moody, âWherever I Go,â with itâs soft sax lead, killer few electric touches, all about where love sets down in our journey of life.