Dire Straits – Dire Straits

Dire Straits’ arresting self-titled debut embraces folk, blues and pub rock + early rock ‘n’ roll

Mofi reissue sports natural tones, superb balances, reference imaging and sterling clarity

Dire Straits’ arresting self-titled debut arrived in the midst of punk’s reign but couldn’t have been further removed from the era’s slash-and-burn style. Recorded in West London in February 1978, the band’s tasteful, jazz-inflected set embraces folk, blues, and pub rock while also tracing a direct line back to the beat-oriented sound of early rock n’ roll. Country and roots accents further distinguish the British quartet’s stripped-down music from any 1970s peers, as does the transparent production, which has remained revered among audiophiles the world over — and which has never been better than on this meticulous analog pressing.