Dire Straits leader
Mark Knopfler's intricate, introspective fingerpicked guitar stylings make a perfect musical complement to the wistful tone of Bill Forsyth's comedy film, Local Hero. This album was billed as a
Knopfler solo album rather than an original soundtrack album, with the notation "music...for the film."
Knopfler brings along
Dire Straits associates
Alan Clark (keyboards) and
John Illsley (bass), plus session aces like saxophonist
Mike Brecker, vibes player
Mike Mainieri, and drummers
Steve Jordan and
Terry Williams. The low-key music picks up traces of Scottish music, but most of it just sounds like
Dire Straits doing instrumentals, especially the recurring theme, one of
Knopfler's more memorable melodies.
Gerry Rafferty (remember him from "Baker Street"?) sings the one vocal selection, "That's the Way It Always Starts." ~ William Ruhlmann