Gerade habe ich mir das 2007 Album “Kill to get Crimson” von Mark Knopfler angehört und ich muß sagen: Die Musik ist genau das richtige für einen kleinen kanadischen Traum.

“Es ist ein typisches Mark Knopfler Album” (M. Knopfler) Diese Beschreibung des Musiker selbst trifft die Sache sehr genau. Den seit STP eingeschlagenen Weg verlässt er nicht mehr. Zwar hat er sich an der jüngsten Weggabelung für die Richtung “Folk” entschieden, trotzdem reiht sich das Album nahtlos an die Vorgänger an. Kommerz ist hier nicht zu finden. Die Songs sind durchgängig nicht radiotauglich (und ich bin davon überzeugt, dass sie es wären, wenn Knopfler das wollte). Mir persönlich gefällt es, ich mag die Folk-Attitüde, mir gefällt die neue Instrumentierung (Fiddel, Akkordeon, Blasinstrumente). Die Ausgeglichenheit die das Album versprüht legt sich wie ein Balsam auf die Seele. Das erwarte ich von einem aktuellen Mark Knopfler Album, und diese Erwartung sehe ich zu 100% erfüllt. Überraschend viele Titel sind im 6/8 Rhythmus, was auch bei relativ langsamen Tempo für eine gewisse Beschwingtheit sorgt. Die Produktion der CD ist, wie nicht anders zu erwarten, erstklassig. Ich habe noch nie vorher eine solch präzise und transparente Klanglandschaft erlebt. Das Album kann man am besten über Kopfhörer genießen, und dabei in seine eigene Traumwelt gleiten. Rezension von H. Landau

Det var en bande sammenspillede musikere i verdensklasse, der med snild behændighed arbejdede sig i gennem et udvalg af Mark Knopflers sange. De rakte fra Dire Straits-tiden til det nu femte soloalbum Kill To Get Crimson. Augustenborg Slotspark, tæt på Sønderborg, dannede en stemningsfuld baggrund, og den første juniaften i 2008 holdt sig over de tyve graders varme.

Minder fra en svunden tid

Det var musikalsk rå-nostalgi fra 1980erne og lidt længere frem i tid, der kom i spil da Knopfler & co. spillede hans sange fra Dire Straits tiden. Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms og Romeo and Juliet er smukke og pompøse værker, hvor Knopflers forskellige former guitarspil for alvor blev foldet ud.

Til Sultans of Swing blev bandet til en vis grad afmonteret, så det kun var Knopfler selv, guitarist Richard Bennett, trommeslager Danny Cummings og bassist Glen Worf. Det er stadig en sang med rytme og lidenskab og historien om bl.a. et band i London, der kalder sig Sultans of Swing. Og det var virkelig musikalske håndværkere, der slog til og fik det til at swinge.

De nyere sange ramte bedst

Til min store overraskelse var et af de numre, der gjorde mest indtryk på mig, det relativt ukendte ’Hill Farmer’s Blues’ fra albummet The Rackpicker’s Dream. Dér nåede Knopfler ud over scenekanten. Sangens historie er måske ikke enorm, men guitarspillet og intensiteten i sangen fik mig til at lytte. Også What It Is, Sailing to Philadelphia og Speedway at Nazareth tog kegler.

Det var en oplevelse at se Mark Knopfler i Augustenborg, og høre hans sange og hans guitarspil. På vejen hjem kom jeg til at tænke på noget af teksten fra sangen Why, Aye Man:

…we’re the nomad tribes, we’re travelling boys

in the dust and dirt and the racket and the noise…

…we got wor tools and working gear

and humped it all from Newcastle to here…

Working men 

Jeg havde lidt følelsen af at Knopfler & co. var netop de rejsende arbejdsfolk han synger om. I dag havde de endnu et stop på rejsen, hvor de endnu engang skulle spille. Det gjorde de så. Folk fik hvad de havde betalt for, men heller ikke mere. Der var ikke rigtig kontakt med publikum og det skuffede lidt.

Læs selv internet-dagbøgerne fra Sønderborg-stoppet fra keyboardspilleren Guy Fletcher og guitarist Richard Bennett (se tour notes).

İşte 2008 yılının müzik olayı. 13 Haziran gecesi, Kuruçeşme Arena’da Ebekulak bey için dünya dönmeyi bırakıyor. Dire Straits grubunun unutulmazı, kendine has soloları ve gitar çalma tekniği ile Mark Knopfler son albümü Kill to Get Crimson’ın dünya turu kapsamında Türkiye’de sahneye çıkıyor.

Sadece ismi bile içimde çok farklı ve çoşkulu duygular uyandırdığı için burada yazabileceğim çok fazla şey yok, tek yapabildiğim o gün orada olacağımı, onu canlı canlı izleyip dinleyeceğimi düşünüp sırıtmak, ve utanmadan benim için Sultans of Swing çalacağını umut etmek.

Tabi ki bir kez daha abim sayesinde…

Mark Knopfler,o ex-líder dos Dire Straits actua hoje, 4 de Abril no Campo Pequeno.O músico regressa assim à capital depois de um concerto no Pavilhão Atlântico em 2005. A actuação de Knopfler em Lisboa está inserida na digressão de promoção a Kill to Get Crimson , o novo álbum.

Site oficial: Mark Knopfler

Site MySpace: Mark Knopfler

Video do tema Punish the Monkey do albúm Kill To Get Crimson.Ao vivo no GMTV em 11.11.2007
 

This fine Tuesday morning I was driving to work listening to the album I will be reviewing here today. It was raining and very dreary looking along the way and the music seemed to fit right in to the mood of the day. The artist is one of my favorite guitar players. He is not what you would call a guitar god but he is a very accomplished player. His name is Mark Knopfler. You might remember him from the rock band Dire Straits. “Money for nothing, and your chicks for free.” Dire Straits has not recorded music since 1995 but Mark Knopfler has continued to make great music although not the kind that would appeal to the masses. His style is so eclectic that his albums don’t usually sell hundreds of thousands, but he has a very loyal following as I am one. His solo albums are all very different from each other. From the Country “Neck and Neck” album he did with Chet Atkins, to composing film scores for two of my favorite films “The Princess Bride“and “Local Hero“, to recording a full duet album “All the Roadrunning ” with Emmylou Harris. He has touched all musical genres. His latest project is no exception.

The album is called “Kill To Get Crimson” and was released September 17th, 2007 and it is such a different album in sound and feel than anything he has done to present. According to Mark Knopfler in a video about his new album (which can be seen here) the title comes from the passion of an artist desiring to get crimson on his paint palette. The songs on this album are supported by many different instruments and makes for a very eclectic album. (I can’t believe I used that word twice in one posting) “Kill To Get Crimson” starts with a love song of sorts “True Love Will Never Fade”. It speaks mainly of a tattoo artist and the picture he put on the shoulder of his love. A picture that will always remind us that “True Love Will Never Fade.” The second track “The Scaffolder’s Wife” is a beautiful song about the wife of a scaffolder who is aging gracefully although as the song says “she is losing her looks over the company books” you understand that she is loved by her husband the scaffolder. The music is filled with a beautifully played flute with piano and of course Knopfler’s recognizable guitar licks. “The Fizzy and the Still” is a beautiful piece of guitar work and tells the story of young man who comes home after trying to make it in Hollywood. The next track “Heart Full of Holes” reminds me so much of an old pub song sung over many beers. Musically the song is adorned by a banjo, and I think I hear a mandolin, but the bridge to the song an accordion is definitely played and fits the song so well. Sing along with “Heart Full of Holes.”

All of the songs on this album are stories that are being told accompanied by the beautiful music. The whole theme and mood of the album remind me so much of songs being sung in an old English pub. Highlights include: “True Love Will Never Fade”,”The Scaffolder’s Wife”, “Secondary Waltz” with it’s accordion laced pub song feel about soldiers getting ready for D-Day of the past and singing “waltzing with fear in our hearts”, “Punish the Monkey” has such a great series of Mark Knopfler patented guitar licks throughout that it makes me smile just to listen and sing “let the organ grinder go”, “Let It All Go” contains the album title in the lyrics which is about the struggles in the life of a painter, “Madame Geneva’s” is a song about a bar where “you can keep the demons at bay, except on a hangin’ day”, and “In The Sky” which is such a masterfully composed song with beautiful guitar and saxophone work.

I haven’t heard anything new this beautiful in such a long time. This is such a great album and should be purchased by anyone who loves to hear wonderful musical compositions. I know this may be getting old but I have to give this album 5 stars out of 5. It will be in my player for a very long time to come. It will be the perfect thing to listen to when I am feeling blue or stressed from the head banging world. I can chill out with the Knopfler baby. Rock On!!

I have also provided a video for the song “What It Is” from the “Sailing To Philadelphia” album. It’s a very good video. Enjoy!

El próximo martes se pondrán a la venta las entradas para los dos únicos conciertos que Mark Knopfler ofrecerá en España dentro de su gira “Kill To Get Crimson Tour“, que llegará al Palau Sant Jordi de Barcelona el 2 de abril, y un día más tarde, al Palacio de los Deportes de Madrid.

El próximo martes se pondrán a la venta las entradas para los dos únicos conciertos que Mark Knopfler ofrecerá en España dentro de su gira “Kill To Get Crimson Tour“, que llegará al Palau Sant Jordi de Barcelona el 2 de abril, y un día más tarde, al Palacio de los Deportes de Madrid.

En esta gira, el que fuera líder de Dire Straits presentará en directo su último álbum Kill to get crimson, donde apuesta por sonidos folk aunque, también rescatará algunos éxitos de su mítica banda.

La visita de Knopfler se producirá casi dos años después del tour que realizó junto a la cantautora americana Emmylou Harris, y que cerró en Barcelona su periplo por Europa.