About
“Knox is a masterly narrator bringing a refreshing directness to his filmic tales of nocturnal wanderings, lonely roads, and mysterious figures in parked cars.”
“His is a majestic body of work that demands repeated listening.”
Photo by Mariana Castro
Daniel Knox narrates his compositions with a perverse and sometimes comical wit, guiding the listener through sprawling worlds that exist just out of frame.
His work has inspired a diverse cast of admirers and collaborators both inside and outside his realm of alternative Americana, such as Jarvis Cocker, Thor Harris (Swans, Freakwater), Nina Nastasia, David Lynch, and The Handsome Family. He has also performed with Rufus Wainwright, Andrew Bird, Rasputina, and Swans.
Mercado 48 is Daniel Knox’s first release since moving to Portugal. It follows 2021’s Won’t You Take Me With You and its predecessor (his critically acclaimed grand holistic album Chasescene), which confirmed his position as both a "rare talent" (Loud And Quiet) and “master storyteller” (The Observer).
Recorded in its entirety in a small shop in Porto’s city-center, amid the sound of pedestrians and passing cars, Mercado 48 is Knox at his most personal and direct. While Knox’s rich baritone dives deeper within the music, the unconventional beauty of his piano style fits perfectly with the long dreamlike stretches of synthesizer, percussion by Thor Harris (Swans, Shearwater), pedal steel and noise from Alex McMahon (The Handsome Family), and sax from Nat Lepine (Smog, Iron & Wine).
Mercado 48 stands alone as an outpost in the sand; a perfect vantage point from which to look back on a fascinating career and into the future.