Mark Knopfler
Golden Heart

"The voice and guitar of Dire Straits". The sticker on Mark Knopfler's compact disc at the time of publication carried this truthful statement, followed by another that was only half true, intended to highlight his solo debut. Let's say straight away that we cannot really speak of a debut, considering that "Local Hero", the very first soundtrack by the then-leader of Dire Straits, was released in 1983, shortly after the excellent "Love Over Gold". We can, however, speak of his first solo album, where you can hear Knopfler juggling his faithful six-string while singing into a microphone, the same role he played up until a few years earlier with the band that gave him the best chance to showcase his exceptional qualities as a composer-guitarist-producer (...perhaps singer was a bit much, no?).

The album in question, following the elegant "On Every Street", includes fourteen tracks that decently summarize all the influences absorbed and the seeds sown over approximately twenty years. A work where there is no lack of songs worthy of esteem, but it certainly won't thrill those fans most loyal to the successful rhythms of "Sultans Of Swing" or "Lady Writer", as well as those who felt more drawn to the taste of simplicity that pervaded the previously crafted soundtracks. They will find excellent inspiration to appreciate an artist always capable of coming up with high-quality musical combinations. The eclecticism of the ingenious guitarist comes out in full, as this is the first album that only bears his name on the cover, undoubtedly favoring a very intimate and personal compositional side, which had had the opportunity to express itself only when the concentration of his creative energies was solely directed at scoring films entrusted to him.

The soft sounds of a "whistle" and an "irish harp" (which wouldn't hurt as the opening theme of a documentary on Ireland) kick off "Darling Pretty", a pop song characterized by a smooth sound and a vocal delivery that glides naturally over the gentle notes of a Gibson Les Paul, skillfully plucked to decorate the intensely moving lyrics (Heal me with a smile, darling pretty/ Heal me with a smile and a heart of gold/ Carry me a while, my darling pretty/ Heal my aching heart and soul: Guariscimi sorridendomi, guariscimi con un sorriso e un cuore d'oro, Portami per un po' caro amore, Guarisci il mio cuore e la mia anima dolorante). The title-track presents itself as another piece that the warm voice of the narrator Knopfler leads through musical paths characterized by harmony and simplicity, where the sound of the guitar can still express itself in a very personal way. The electric blues "No Can Do" carefully raises the decibels and the rhythm changes embellish its sensual progression, just as "Don't You Get It" has the right qualities to spark that inner restlessness that our man cannot contain, performing a straightforward solo that dispels any doubt about his willful departure from those formidable rock 'n roll impulses that highlighted his egocentric creativity. A sincere tribute (I said tribute!!) to the most successful Straits are the biting "Imelda" (well, a few notes of "Money For Nothing" are palpable...) or the lively boogie of "Cannibals" (a more "family-friendly" "Walk Of Life"), while the never forgotten Scottish roots overflow from the touching "A Night In Summer Long Ago" (Then I lead you from the hall/ And we did ride upon the hill/ Away beyond the city wall/ And sure you are my lady still/ A night in summer long ago/ The stars were falling form the sky/ And still, my heart, I have to know/ Why do you love me, lady, why?/: Ti ho portata via dal salone/ E il cavallo ci ha portato sulla collina/ Lontano dalle mura della città/ E da allora sei ancora la mia signora/ Una notte d'estate tanto tempo fa/ Le stelle cadevano giù dal cielo/ ma devo ancora capire amore/ perché mi ami, signora, perché?). Most of the other songs confirm an intentional artistic journey aimed at a spontaneity of writing, which further highlights the most intimate aspect of sounds that in the past had been echoed with moderation.

It is unfair to make any comparison between this CD and what was produced with Dire Straits, although Golden Heart should be accepted as an album that is at the end of the day decent, where folk and Celtic traditions converge along with country and cajun, while fluid poetry and gentle melodies are handled by Knopfler with tried-and-tested cordiality, also synonymous with a newfound inner and family serenity to which his attractive partner Kitty Aldridge (noted British actress) strongly contributed, so much so that she deserves a very romantic dedication on the first page of the booklet accompanying the album.