Three years removed from crafting Dire Straits' third album, Making Movies, band leader Mark Knopfler elected to adhere to the record's title and try his hand at doing just that in an aural way. Written and performed to accompany the film Local Hero, the iconic guitarist's first soundtrack continues to serve as one of the decade's most prized scores. No wonder the BAFTA Award-nominated work has long eclipsed the Bill Forsyth film in stature, merit, and popularity – and emerged as the basis of a stage musical that debuted in Scotland in 2019.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs believes that mastering systems should be neutral and transparent. The essential idea is to unveil all the detailed musical information on the original master recording without adding deterioration, colouration or other sonic artefacts.
With proprietary innovations such as GAIN 2™, general music enthusiasts and audiophiles alike have reaped the benefit of a higher consumer audio standard without investing in costly new hardware.
A1: The Rocks & The Water
A2: Wild Theme
A3: Freeway Flyer
A4: Boomtown (Variation Louis' Favourite)
A5: The Way It Always Starts
A6: The Rocks And The Thunder
A7: The Ceilidh And The Northern Lights
B1: The Mist Covered Mountains
B2: The Ceilidh: Louis Favourite Billy's Tune
B3: Whistle Theme
B4: Smooching
B5: Stargazer
B6: The Rocks And The Thunder
B7: Going Home: Theme Of The Local Hero
Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed at RTI on dead-quiet 180g vinyl, Mobile Fidelity's numbered-edition 180g LP of Local Hero gives the beloved effort audiophile-grade sound on a par with the reference-quality sonics afforded Dire Straits' Mobile Fidelity reissues. In each arrangement, Knopfler's methodical guitar lines emerge with supreme transparency and multi-hued textural detail. The intricate notes, finger-picked passages, and cosmopolitan lines come across as if they're transmitted just feet away from you in real time.
Ditto the diverse accompaniment, including the Celtic-themed effects, supplemental jazz accents, and folk inflections. The keys to the nearly 44-minute effort's success and continuity relate not only to Knoplfer's laidback style and low-key approach, but his ear for uncanny melody and blues traces. Woven acoustically and electrically, his tapestries benefit from the newfound airiness, openness, and balance that live on this reissue. No matter the instrument or treatment, the music arrives with pinpoint imaging and vibrant liveliness. Close your eyes, and the Mobile Fidelity version of Local Hero projects movies in your head.
For instance, take the closing "Going Home," a cherished instrumental whose proud spirit resonates with English football fans and features saxophone playing by the late, great Michael Brecker. Heard before every Newcastle United F.C. home game, it has become an anthem on both sides of the Atlantic. Or, look to "The Ceilidh: Louis' Favorite Billy's Tune" on which Scottish-flavored vibes and dance tempos conjure a festive jig until a transition gives the number a more subdued, romantic feel. Then, the pattern repeats. Seeking to expand beyond the parameters of Dire Straits, Knoplfer taps into a global economy of structures and sounds, and takes anyone with a sense of adventure along for the ride.
Not that his hallmark six-string is absent from the proceedings. It frames the lovely tin-pan whistle motif of the aptly titled "Whistle Theme," acts as a beacon for the elegant, vibraphone-kissed "Smooching," and pushes forward the jovial, top-down momentum of "Freeway Flyer," among other highlights. Knopfler also receives assistance from session pros Mike Mainieri, Steve Jordan, and Terry Williams, as well as vocalist Gerry Rafferty on the set's sole vocal tune, "That's the Way It Always Starts."
GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ is a proprietary cutting system built and designed by legendary design genius Tim De Paravicini, with consultation from one of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's founding fathers - Stan Ricker, an audio engineer responsible for many of MFSL's most heralded past releases.
The GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system is comprised of a Studer™ tape machine with customised reproduction electronics* and handcrafted cutting amps that drive an Ortofon cutting head on a restored Neumann VMS-70 lathe. (*It is worth noting that independent studies have confirmed that the GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system can unveil sonic information all the way up to 122kHz!)
First and foremost, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs only utilise first generation original master recordings as source material for their releases. MFSL then play back master tapes at half speed enabling the GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ system to fully extract the master's sonic information. The lacquers are then plated in a specialised process that protects transients in the musical signal. (Due to this process, there may be occasional pops or ticks inherent in initial play back, but as the disc is played more, a high quality stylus will actually polish the grooves and improve the sound). MFSL further ensure optimum sound quality by strictly limiting the number of pressings printed for each release. These limited editions, in addition to being collectors' items, ensure that the quality of the last pressing matches the quality of the first.
Bass – Eddie Gomez, John Illsley, Neil Jason, Tony Levin
Drums – Steve Jordan, Terry Williams
Engineer – Neil Dorfsman
Engineer [Assistant] – Josh Abbey, Phil Vinall, Tim Palmer
Engineer [Ceilidh] – Louis Kramer
Guitar, Synthesizer, Percussion, Drums [Linn Drums] – Mark Knopfler
Lacquer Cut By – KW
Mastered By – Krieg Wunderlich
Mastered By [Assisted By] – Neal Harris
Musician [The Acetones], Accordion – Dale Winchester
Musician [The Acetones], Bass – Brian Rowan
Musician [The Acetones], Drums – Ed Bicknell
Musician [The Acetones], Guitar – Alan Darby, Roddy Murray
Musician [The Acetones], Piano – Alan Clark
Musician [The Acetones], Violin – Mark Winchester
Musician [The Acetones], Whistle – Jimmy Yuill
Photography By [Back Cover Photo] – Frank Griffin
Photography By [Cover Photo] – Denis Waugh
Producer – Mark Knopfler
Recorded By [Ceilidh] – Mark Knopfler
Rhythm Guitar – Hal Lindes
Saxophone – Mike Brecker
Synthesizer, Piano, Organ [Hammond] – Alan Clark
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Mike Mainieri
Vocals – Gerry Rafferty
Written-By – Mark Knopfler
Mastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab on the GAIN 2 ULTRA ANALOG SYSTEM.
Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – MFSL 1-505, Warner Records – MFSL 1-505
Series: Original Master Recording, GAIN 2™ Ultra Analog LP 180g Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, 180g
Country: US
Released: 2022
Genre: Jazz, Rock, Folk, World, & Country, Stage & Screen
Style: Folk Rock, Soundtrack, Ambient
| Model Number | LMF505 |
|---|---|
| RRP | 90.00 |
