Mark Knopfler writes pop and rock tunes the way Hank Marvin writes instrumental music—full of irony, drama and plenty of lush and melodic pop arrangements—meaning much more substance than style. The songs on the 2007 CD Kill To Get Crimson is a testimony to Knopfler’s approach to guitar song writing. Knopfler’s fifth solo, non-soundtrack release, following 2004’s Shangri-La, and Knopfler’s collaboration with Emmylou Harris, All The Roadrunning, 2007’s Kill To Get Crimson also features accordionist Ian Lowthian, with whom Knopfler collaborated on his brilliant soundtrack to the 2002 movie A Shot At Glory, as well as long time Knopfler band mates Guy Fletcher and Chuck Ainlay. In addition to the standout track, “Let It All Go,” track seven, “Punish The Monkey” is a solid return to the imaginative sound of the MTV years of the ‘80s. Commenting on the CD cover art, Knopfler adds, “For the cover, I’ve chosen a picture painted in 1958, it has a West Indian girl who wants to buy a red scooter. This is pre-mod, and the L-plate hasn’t changed to this day. I’ve got a red scooter, and it’s amazing, it looks pretty much exactly the same. That time was very interesting from the point of view of a musician, a kid at that time. A lot of the record is picking up strands from there.” www.markknopfler.com

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