Knife (1984)
MCV Rating: 3.5/$$
This is a hard one to review. I like, for the most part, the lyrics, or what Roddy Frame is trying do with them. I like the easygoing acoustical music approach.
But, the opus title song, Knife at 9 minutes, is atmospheric to a fault and sounds like an outtake to Mark Knopfler’s music for the ‘Local Hero’ movie soundtrack. Excellent low-key movie BTW and excellent low-key Knopfler music on its soundtrack.. This album Knife, surprise, is produced by Knopfler.
Upon listening after many years of not digging into my collection to pull this one, I have to say some of this comes as a new found revelation. Part of the reason I wanted to do this whole Countdown thing in the first place to remember great songs that I’ve forgotten.. Aztec Camera has songs on this album that could be minor folk/ rock classics, stuff I’d listen to all the time. Stuff played in every corner pub.
But I haven’t been. Playing these songs that is.
And I don’t feel there are a lot of club singers with this in their repertoire. ( Could be wrong)l
Why? I think because those three or four truly good songs on the album get lost in the esoteric Knopflersque mist. Nevertheless, there are quite excellent songs on here, starting with “Still on Fire.”
Maybe the way to go is Best of Aztec Camera. However, I just checked and it didn’t have ‘Still on Fire’ or ‘Just like the USA’ on it, which leads me to wonder about it’s direction. It reminds me of a truth that my years of song collecting has provided: Sometimes all you need to know about a group is in the greatest hits record, or anthology compilation. But sometimes those Best Of records are only starting points to help peel back the layers and find the truly good, even the best, work by an artist.
Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.