Dire Straits – Alchemy – The Review
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
I’ve been a fan of Dire Straits for as long as I’ve had taste. During my formative years the Straits were a constant companion in my asthma plagued childhood. Despite constant barbs from fuckos who thought that Jimmy Barnes’ Soul Deep album was the height of musical excellence. A seminial VHS cassette for me during this time was Dire Straits – Alchemy.
So it was with a significant portion of surprise and a good dose of ‘fuck me!’ that while searching online for session times for Iron Man 2 I noticed a screening time for Alchemy.
Recorded in 1983 before the mega success of Brothers in Arms and when Dire Straits were still considered a ‘cool’ band, Alchemy is an outstanding example of a band at the peak of its musical ambitions. Therefore it was with a keen sense of anticipation and curiosity that my business associate, Spud from Spud’s Wines, and I headed down to our local mega cineplex. Not wanting a repeat of my Avatar Review I stayed relatively sober, expecting a packed house I was quite surprised to see a grand total of seven fellow Dire Straits nuts. This made for an intimate atmosphere which meant there was also a lack of teenagers with their mobile phone’s flashing and beeping and beeping and flashing!!!…I digress.
Out of all the bands that were at the height of their fame in ’80s, Dire Straits probably stands out as being the least ‘80s type band of the umm ‘80s. This is evidenced by their front man Mark Knopfler, an average looking but somewhat charismatic Geordie. The lead singer, songwiter and producer of most of the Straits material it is easily argued that band was merely an alter ego for its leader. A pseudonym that has since been shed, see Sailing to Philadelphia for an example finest solo work.
Featuring their best known songs up until that time and filmed on their Love Over Gold tour, the concert features new and progressively complex arrangements of Straits staples. Their biggest hit at the time Sultans of Swing is a case in point. Now having the luxury of more sophisticated instrumentation, having moved their original four piece line up, Knopfler turns the five minute ditty into a ten minute rock opus with an extended solo and interplay between Knopfler and the keys of fellow Geordie Alan Clarke.
Seeing this performance on the big screen in 5.1 Dolby Surround gave me whole new perspective on the band. Much rockier than I remember mainly because I could now truly appreciate the depth and layers within the arrangements and feel the bass for the first time. The most startling revelation was in the epic Telegraph Road, the closest Knopfler ever came to his contemporary in Springsteen in terms of working class lament. Featuring Knopfler’s iconic National Steel guitar, Telegraph Road features some of the most complex arrangements that you are likely to hear from any mainstream rock act.
Other highlights include Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love and the Theme from Local Hero. Spud, I and the other seven blokes in the cinema immensely enjoyed ourselves. It was a real treat to be taken back to a time where raw talent could still cut through the increasingly manufactured pop and crackle that lead to the pre-fab mainstream pop scene we have today. Can’t wait to see it on BluRay.
I don’t think there is any more to say than HEAR HEAR… Everyone needs to watch this, simple as that
You guys are just sounding so old!! I grew up with Dire Straits. My Dad and brother were huge fans and so I was too! Dire Straits and Star Wars are etched in my brain.
Would that I were three…. The passion and build up of dire straits…. oh I get chills thinking of it… Guitar hero’s tension and exquitiste pain… yuo are lucky I was not in the cinema…. I would have been the lame chick fainting down the front