The new songs - A hypothesis

[Rail King]

I'd love to see Daniel Lanois or Rick Rubin produce Mark Knopfler. Or Blake Mills. Mark's songs are intriguing in themselves, but any of these three guys could make them more intriguing, still.

[Robson]

Rick Rubin. Certainly, Johnny Cash's recent albums have gained new value.

[KnopfleRick]

I think we fans deserve a double album after this long time of patiently waiting. I guess he must have written a lot of songs. All of his albums are different, but imho he has never done a bad one. I can't wait to hear his new songs!

[Robson]

I think we fans deserve a double album after this long time of patiently waiting. I guess he must have written a lot of songs. All of his albums are different, but imho he has never done a bad one. I can't wait to hear his new songs!

Oh yes definitely! I like this thought very much:)

[Pierre]

plus a bonus cd taken from a studio live session

[qjamesfloyd]

He must have more than enough songs for a double album, just think how many he must have written during lockdown?

[Jules]

He must have unused songs from previous records to fill a double cd for sure, songs that are good enough but that they didn't fit with the rest of songs at the time (like Pyroman, Bonafide or Bonfire night) and don't fit with the music he does nowadays either, but would be good enough to be released.

It is a pity that songs that are good are left out just because they don't fit the rest and left behind forever.

I'm sure he recorded enough material for a couple of double albums in these last sessions and hopefully we would have the chance to listen maybe a 1/4 part of them between what it's in the record and the bonus tracks, and most of the rest would remain hidden just because they didn't fit.

[Robson]

"Ottoman" 

[Jules]

"Ottoman" 

Pyroman

[Robson]

"Ottoman" 

Pyroman

 

[SadArthur]

He must have unused songs from previous records to fill a double cd for sure, songs that are good enough but that they didn't fit with the rest of songs at the time (like Pyroman, Bonafide or Bonfire night) and don't fit with the music he does nowadays either, but would be good enough to be released.

It is a pity that songs that are good are left out just because they don't fit the rest and left behind forever.

I'm sure he recorded enough material for a couple of double albums in these last sessions and hopefully we would have the chance to listen maybe a 1/4 part of them between what it's in the record and the bonus tracks, and most of the rest would remain hidden just because they didn't fit.

Pyroman.

[Robson]

I wonder if Mark wrote a song about AI for the new album. I also think about Danny Cummings' words that Mark was courageous. Maybe in the songs in which we hear Seana Davey's harp.

[Wario]

We'll probably have one or two songs done like in the old days, but looking at the photos in Guy's diary and knowing MK's abilities and artistic inclinations, I'm hoping for some folk, probably some ballads and maybe we'll have some country or blues. My thoughts.

[qjamesfloyd]

Didn't Guy say something about one song being absolutely amazing on his forum? I can't remember the exact words he used. I can't wait to hear that one.

[SlowLearner]

Guy has so far told us:

There's at least 1 track with Richard Bennett on mandola.

There's at least 1 track with Greg Leisz on mandolin.

Seana Davey plays the harp on 1 track.

Ed Cervenka is on cimbalom at least on 1 track.

Tamsin and Emma Topolski are backing vocalists on at least 1 track.

The sessions featured other several guest musicians, whose names Guy did not mention yet.

Apparently, the sessions started in early 2021. Then they resumed at later part of the year, which ended in November 2021.
Those 2021 sessions were mostly Guy and Mark working on demos.
February 2022 was the continuation of the sessions with the full band there, with new member Greg Leisz, who according to Guy fit so well with the band as if he was there before.
There's probably a lot more sessions in 2022 and 2023, but they're not yet documented in the studio diary, as we still wait at this moment for part 4 of the diary.
I wonder if the album (and EP) will be a mix of different sessions or if the later sessions will prevail a whole lot more.
Oh yes, Guy also said that sometimes the first takes of songs are the best and when they do more takes they actually overdo them so.. We might have some one takes ending up on the album.