Mark Knopfler – One Deep River (2024)

But your light will keep on burning like that evening star, and your song will keep returning wherever you are.

Sometimes I wonder how Mark Knopfler’s music can still move me so deeply after all these years. Maybe it’s his guitar playing – always restrained, never flashy, but with an emotional resonance that cuts straight to the bone. Maybe it’s his voice – that dry, warm storyteller’s tone that never tries to impress, and precisely because of that, always hits home. Or maybe it’s simply the timeless class of an artist who never has anything to prove, but always something to say. One Deep River confirms all of this once again.

The album feels instantly familiar, like an old friend dropping by after years apart, picking up the conversation right where you left off. Knopfler is not a man of radical stylistic shifts – and thankfully so. What I look for in his music – that blend of folk, blues, and British melancholy – is here in abundance. The production is warm and organic, giving space to every nuance. No gimmicks, no chasing trends. Just stories and atmosphere, carried by music that breathes.

Right from the opening track, “Two Pairs of Hands” I feel that subtle magic again. It’s got that laid-back JJ Cale-style groove, with Knopfler’s unmistakable guitar touch. “Ahead of the Game” follows, swinging with a country twang and echoing his early musical struggles. These are songs of memory and perseverance – classic Knopfler territory.

“Smart Money” adds a tropical flair, evoking something of a Margaritaville vibe, while “Scavenger’s Yard” brings in a funky pulse, winding guitars, and a shady character straight out of a noir film. Every song has its own little world.

“Black Tie Jobs” is a subdued ballad, rich with melancholy and delicately layered guitars. Then there’s “Tunnel 13,” recounting the 1923 train robbery in the Siskiyou Mountains – a stark, acoustic track that haunts quietly, with ethereal backing vocals adding just the right ghostly touch.

“Janine” pays homage to the Bakersfield sound, a love song colored by Greg Leisz’s pedal steel, while “Watch Me Gone” feels like a soft nod to Dylan and Van Morrison – relaxed and introspective.

“Before My Train Comes” touches on themes of mortality and parting, delivered with a dusty Americana feel filtered through Knopfler’s unmistakably British lens. “This One’s Not Going to End Well” carries a veiled warning about rising global tyranny, its somber tone accented by John McCusker’s mournful violin.

The album closes with the title track, “One Deep River” – a love letter to the River Tyne, tying Knopfler’s childhood to the present moment. It’s beautifully executed, with a stunning blend of guitar and pedal steel. For me, it’s one of his finest songs in years – reflective, emotional, and quietly powerful.

No, this isn’t a reinvention. It doesn’t need to be. As a fan from way back, I’m not looking for fireworks. I’m looking for depth, craft, and soul. And One Deep River delivers exactly that. No grand gestures, just a warm hand on the shoulder. No explosion, just a slow-burning glow that lingers long after the last note fades away.

And maybe that’s the most beautiful thing music can do.

Tracklist

A1 Two Pairs Of Hands
A2 Ahead Of The Game
A3 Smart Money
B1 Scavengers Yard
B2 Black Tie Jobs
B3 Tunnel 13
C1 Janine
C2 Watch Me Gone
C3 Sweeter Than The Rain
D1 Before My Train Comes
D2 This One’s Not Going To End Well
D3 One Deep River

Vinyl Specs

Streaming

Links

https://www.discogs.com/release/30373691-Mark-Knopfler-One-Deep-River

https://www.waxlog.com/collection/cave/artist-m/release/1661660978/mark-knopfler-one-deep-river