(2) Ahead of the game

[Robson]

I think I know MK's music well. But I don't hear anything similar  Maybe a little guitar, its sound reminds me of True Love Will Never Fade.

[Peter1981]

I love it! Sophisticated chord changes, strong melody, cool groove and very classy no-nonsense production and mix. Really fits with his age and status, much more so than Good on you son, which seemed a bit up-beat tailored for radio but missed it at all accounts for me. This would be much more airplay-able. Hats off, just what I hoped he would deliver! All in all, sounds great!!

[Knopflerfan]

Just played it through my sound system and I love it especially the dainty Bass n drums! Knopflers Strat sound is beautiful too..

[Love Expresso]

I love it! Sophisticated chord changes, strong melody, cool groove and very classy no-nonsense production and mix. Really fits with his age and status, much more so than Good on you son, which seemed a bit up-beat tailored for radio but missed it at all accounts for me. This would be much more airplay-able. Hats off, just what I hoped he would deliver! All in all, sounds great!!

I totally agree with you, apart from the "strong melody". I love this song but I can understand people you have reservations because of the almost monotonous repeat of the them. I have a soft spot for songs with this element like "Song For Sonny Liston"  or "Beyond My Wildest Dreams", not that I compare those two with AOTG, but this one sounds so good. You nailed it with everything you said.

LE

[Knopflerfan]

I love it! Sophisticated chord changes, strong melody, cool groove and very classy no-nonsense production and mix. Really fits with his age and status, much more so than Good on you son, which seemed a bit up-beat tailored for radio but missed it at all accounts for me. This would be much more airplay-able. Hats off, just what I hoped he would deliver! All in all, sounds great!!

I totally agree with you, apart from the "strong melody". I love this song but I can understand people you have reservations because of the almost monotonous repeat of the them. I have a soft spot for songs with this element like "Song For Sonny Liston"  or "Beyond My Wildest Dreams", not that I compare those two with AOTG, but this one sounds so good. You nailed it with everything you said.

LE

Totally agree with all said here, love the repeating Riff as it just simply works with the mood of the lovely little song...

[mkdsone]

Not for me personally, just no meat on the bones with this one. Sounds like a B side or bonus track. Seems to lack melody like many of the songs in the last decade, same chords and rhythm as many songs in that era. Waiting on the next ones, pity all the songs look short so I am not expecting much guitar playing

Exactly.
Musically, the new song is good enough for me but it is sad to confirm that he's still plagiaring himself mercylessly some of his old musical ideas, as he did in DTRW. The riff is recycled from 38 Special and the verse is litteraly carboncopied from the verses from The Car Was The One. Put it all in the mixer with a new groove and there you have it.

I totally agree with this : .38 Special came immediately to mind.  I like the sound and the feeling of the new song, but it's nothing "new", for me he's not "ahead of the game" with this one and I don't like the fade-out ; some alternating licks would be nice...

[Markus]

"pity all the songs look short so I am not expecting much guitar playing"

How long are the songs?

Between 3 and 4 minutes, very few of them have 5 minutes.

https://www.qobuz.com/de-de/album/one-deep-river-mark-knopfler/mocgl8vxu0uqb

[Mossguitar]

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

Well, he plays with a pick on thick strings, so I guess that’s why it sounds a bit «stiff», no left hand vibrato or bends and so on. I guess it’s the same artistic decstion as on Our Shangri-la and most of the Kill To Get Crimson record.

[Robson]

"pity all the songs look short so I am not expecting much guitar playing"

How long are the songs?

Between 3 and 4 minutes, very few of them have 5 minutes.

https://www.qobuz.com/de-de/album/one-deep-river-mark-knopfler/mocgl8vxu0uqb

I expected longer songs.

[hunter v2.0]

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

Well, he plays with a pick on thick strings, so I guess that’s why it sounds a bit «stiff», no left hand vibrato or bends and so on. I guess it’s the same artistic decstion as on Our Shangri-la and most of the Kill To Get Crimson record.

It's not a question about pick or fingers, although I know what you are getting at. Mark always added chromatic passing notes, used small bends, slides, pull offs and hammer ons, vibrato (his vibrato is one of the best there is, so smooth and controlled) to breath life and air into his phrases. Like a voice. It's like that is gone. And it's also not about string gauge. I use 13-56 on my dreadnought acoustic and can bend and use vibrato without problem with my left hand, which is not my dominant hand, and I'm also not a particularly strong guy. Mark, who plays with his dominant hand, should have no problem using vibrato on his 57 Strat with 12 gauge strings. It will be very interesting to hear other songs and solos from this album.

[GIUMK]

Hello guys.
I listened to the new single: very beautiful.  At first sight I immediately fell in love with the Riff.  If I had to compare the setting of the song I would compare it to Walk of Life.  Same style, similar in rhythm and with the guitar riff replacing the WOL organ.  I know it's a harsh comparison but I really like Riffs, it's a matter of taste!

[Mossguitar]

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

Well, he plays with a pick on thick strings, so I guess that’s why it sounds a bit «stiff», no left hand vibrato or bends and so on. I guess it’s the same artistic decstion as on Our Shangri-la and most of the Kill To Get Crimson record.

It's not a question about pick or fingers, although I know what you are getting at. Mark always added chromatic passing notes, used small bends, slides, pull offs and hammer ons, vibrato (his vibrato is one of the best there is, so smooth and controlled) to breath life and air into his phrases. Like a voice. It's like that is gone. And it's also not about string gauge. I use 13-56 on my dreadnought acoustic and can bend and use vibrato without problem with my left hand, which is not my dominant hand, and I'm also not a particularly strong guy. Mark, who plays with his dominant hand, should have no problem using vibrato on his 57 Strat with 12 gauge strings. It will be very interesting to hear other songs and solos from this album.

When he plays his 54 Strat with 12s, he doesn’t bend or play vibrato with his left hand, so that’s a deliberate choice of style. Of course he could bend if he wanted to, at least he used to could. Yes, it’s gonna be interesting to hear the other new songs and how his playing (and left hand bends and vibrato) has become when he plays other guitars.

[hunter v2.0]

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

Well, he plays with a pick on thick strings, so I guess that’s why it sounds a bit «stiff», no left hand vibrato or bends and so on. I guess it’s the same artistic decstion as on Our Shangri-la and most of the Kill To Get Crimson record.

It's not a question about pick or fingers, although I know what you are getting at. Mark always added chromatic passing notes, used small bends, slides, pull offs and hammer ons, vibrato (his vibrato is one of the best there is, so smooth and controlled) to breath life and air into his phrases. Like a voice. It's like that is gone. And it's also not about string gauge. I use 13-56 on my dreadnought acoustic and can bend and use vibrato without problem with my left hand, which is not my dominant hand, and I'm also not a particularly strong guy. Mark, who plays with his dominant hand, should have no problem using vibrato on his 57 Strat with 12 gauge strings. It will be very interesting to hear other songs and solos from this album.

When he plays his 54 Strat with 12s, he doesn’t bend or play vibrato with his left hand, so that’s a deliberate choice of style. Of course he could bend if he wanted to, at least he used to could. Yes, it’s gonna be interesting to hear the other new songs and how his playing (and left hand bends and vibrato) has become when he plays other guitars.

Yes, I know he normally uses the tremolo arm instead of bending/vibrato when playing the 54 Strat (did I say 57 Strat earlier?), but on this track he doesn't use the tremolo arm. That's what I find so odd. But, yeah, fingers crossed for the rest of the album.

[quizzaciously]

Hello guys.
I listened to the new single: very beautiful.  At first sight I immediately fell in love with the Riff.  If I had to compare the setting of the song I would compare it to Walk of Life.  Same style, similar in rhythm and with the guitar riff replacing the WOL organ.  I know it's a harsh comparison but I really like Riffs, it's a matter of taste!

Yes, the riff is pretty cool. Quite remarkable how he's created such a hook with just 7 notes and an equal amount of slurs. I even transcribed it already (sorry, I can't help it): https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mark-knopfler/ahead-of-the-game-chords-5118550

The riff is indeed very easy and "slippery" or "smooth" is a better word. The solo is also simple and I like it.

[cannibals]

https://youtube.com/shorts/o2gPsuo6j6c?si=YBSJ9hYRJe85X4z4
Short clip MK and band in studio.