There's a part of me that, whenever I hear Knopfler's guitar, longs for the instrument to become what it wants be in his hands, a lead guitar. Mark's been beating it into me that he's no longer interested in the pyrotechnics, and it took this CD for me to come to terms with that. He finds inspiration from virtually anything, from Roadrunner to mulligan stew, and crafts stories that place us, for a few moments, somewhere far away, but somewhere real. The music exists more than to provide atmosphere for the story, but to hold it aloft in caring hands. This is a truly beautiful album that rewards the listener in greater measure with each listen. Turn it up loud; it won't hurt your ears.