This was the first solo album by Mark Knopfler after the divergence of Dire Straits. Since Dire Straits anyway were nothing more than Mark Knopfler with accompanying group has really changed much. Here our favorite guitarist plays mostly around with Irish arrangements, when he was not his instrument can run wild. Vocally, he seems at least not just to be in outstanding shape and his nudelt Chanting too often very low, therefore (or this is due to the mix?). For the texts there are the booklet (if the lyrics are interested someone) and as always Mark Knopfler returns in spite of everything a few feats from - "Darling Pretty" is beautiful and captivating; "Imelda" has a strong guitar and "Golden Heart" - the title track and the same love ode to his wife - is moving with aural accompaniment therefore. But - and there is, as so often with this artist the problem - are precisely the first three tracks, and the disc can then something after. Highlights are "Cannibals", reminiscent of "Walk of Life", "Rüdiger" - unusually original, and "Are we in trouble now," a typically melancholic fade out. In between, however, the low point "Nobody's got the gun" that with his repeated verses of the nursery rhyme "come from the Blue Mountains we" remind (!). All in all, solid craftsmanship, as you would expect from Mark Knopfler, which was, however, clearly exceeded the 2000 album "Sailing to Philadelphia" and put in the shade.
