Sultans of swing

Press, 2 August 1979, Page 15

Sultans of swing

DIRE STRAITS “Communique” (Vertigo 63W170): Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist, leader, and composer for Dire Straits, was unhappy about the reviews “Communique’’ received in Britain, according to a “Melody Maker” interview the week after the album was released. However, Knopfler has put reviewers in a rather tight spot, because “Communique” is not such a bold statement as the group’s debut album, “Dire Straits,” and because of that I think the critics have reacted accordingly. The new album has none of the lyrical substance of the hit “Sultans Of Swing,” nothing as gutsy as “In The Gallery,” and none of the London flavour that made the first album a success. Part of the reason seems to be that “Communique” was recorded at Muscle Shoals. Alabama, with the help of producer Jerry Wexler. Only one “English” track, “Portobello Belle,” is included, but even that is partly Americanised. However, in spite of all the criticism, the album does have some admirable qualities, even if it is lyrically and melodically vague compared with the boldness of “Dire Straits.” The two opening tracks on side one, "Once Upon A Time In The West” and “News,” both have a nice Western feel, a sort of nostalgia for gunslinging days gone by, and if that theme had been carried through I believe the whole album would have been a lot stronger.

“Where Do You Think You’re Going” is more in the Knopf ler style, a really beautiful track, and even better is the laidback “Follow Me Home,” my own favourite. Most people I have talked to about “Communique” seem uncertain about their reactions to the album. Perhaps it resembles an official communique — saying a lot about nothing. DEVO “Duty Now For The Future"’ (Warner Bros. BSK 3337): The title of this album has a certain irony, in that some of the material contained in it goes back to 1976. Gone is the experimental work with Brian Eno on the debut album (an uneasy alliance) and now we get almost A O R ( a 1b u m-oriented rock) with the clean-cut production sound of Ken Scott, who is normally

associated with Supertramp and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Devo have not really advanced in spite of the change in producer. The art school band plays on without really making anybody sit up and take notice, unlike Pere Übu. Some of the 1976 numbers have the same appeal as the songs on the debut album, including “Secret Agent Man” and “Blockhead,” while “The Day My Baby Gave Me A Surprize” gets better every time it’s played. JOHN MILES “More Miles Per Hour” (Decca TXS-R135): After signing an ironclad contract that I would only say nice things about this album in return for the compilation album, “The Bob Seger Collection,” I don’t think I have much choice about what I say. At least that is what

my lawyers advise after reading the small print.

The cover is nice. The music is nice. John Miles is nice, so is the producer, Alan Parsons, and the album itself is nice — round, flat, black vinyl, fitting snugly on the turntable. John Miles appears on the cover in a Battle of Britain fighter pilot outfit, while behind him is a Concorde, suggesting that he is something of a jetsetter. To some extent that is true (thanks to Alan Parsons), especially the McCartneyish bits on “Fella In The Cellar” and “We All Fall Down.” I’m not sure whether EMI was having its little joke when offering me the Seger compilation in return for a nice review, because at times John Miles sounds like Bob Seger, especially on “Bad Blood.”