Down the Road Wherever was the last release by the Scottish singer and guitarist of Dire Straits, signed six seasons ago. Now Mark Knopfler returns with a work that, if it stands out for anything, is for its unitary and homogeneous character. Also slow, a generally calm musical and vocal flow, in which the guitarist – at 74 years old – opts for a sound lacking in rock muscle, which is not synonymous with a lack of brilliance or doing a job of commitment, and , yes, with vocal conditions as non-transferable and recognizable as always,
In what is already his tenth solo album, the now undoubtedly legendary musician takes things calmly, sonically pleasant and even beautiful, as shown from the beginning of the album with an attractive and reflective Two Pairs of Hands. In it he talks about times past, a theme that he resorts to in a nostalgic way in other moments such as Watch Me Gone, the impeccable and even addictive Ahead of the Game, or in the piece that gives the album its title, where he remembers his native Newcastle. . The arc of sonic colors contains a medley that inevitably recalls J.J. Cale, to the West, as he transcends in the slightly lively Scavengers yard, or also calm cuts like Janine (bordering on caramelized) or Black tie jobs. All of this gives shape to a suit that resizes a musician who is perfectly aware of what his current limits and aspirations are.
Beyond the extra-musical fame of The Libertines by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, the British maintain their condition and desire. In this All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, the first album in almost a decade, Doherty strives as a composer and vocalist in a sound stage where there are tavern blues, bombastic strings or glam rock.
The quintet certifies the remarkable good flavor left with Vivir más, just a couple of years ago. The lyrics of the eleven songs purify sincerity and are not simple filler, and, furthermore, they are a successful counterbalance to their technorumba, that fan that invites them to the dance floor, where Meritxell Neddermann or Muchachito Bombo Infierno collaborate.
A decisive step along a well-established path is what Carla Serrat offers with a work in which pop, electronics and voice (all in English) marry naturally and convincingly from the initial Longing. Her color field is varied within the synthetic, the slow and the hectic, a field in which Part of me stands out, in close collaboration with the Guinean Falle Nioke.
