Amazon.co.uk Review
Leading-off with
Trawlerman's Song--the studio version of the fisherman's tale from
Mark Knopfler's 2004 album Shangri La--this six-track EP offers five exclusive live acoustic cuts specifically recorded and broadcast as part of the Shangri La albums' attendant promotional duties. The original studio versions sounded rootsy and organic to begin with--Knopfler, in paying tribute to the late skiffle pioneer Lonnie Donegan and in reproaching Presley's wayward silver-screen dalliances has discovered a fresh, nostalgically-pure purpose of late--so the radio versions don't highlight any great stylistic differentiation. That said, dedicated followers of the
Dire Straits kingpin will not feel short-changed. This mini-album -expertly and intuitively performed--only serves to verify that what Knopfler does is "real". And even in this trim setting his imagination bulges. Fallen idols, fast food (is "Boom Like That" merely a narrative or a citation or censure of McDonalds founder Ray Kroc's entrepreneurial ruthlessness?) boxing legends and medicine-show quacks. A great set of short stories.
--Kevin Maidment