ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS
Raise The Roof (Warner Music)
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss follow up their multi-Grammy award-winning album Raising Sand after 14 years, with Raise The Roof, reviving much the same sound that won over critics to this unlikely pair. It’s very difficult not to be charmed by anything that features the honey-like voice of Alison Krauss, who unlocked new tones in Plant back in 2007, bringing the duo together into irresistibly-blended harmonies.
Robert Plant Welsh Tour Info
Although digging up obscurities for this sort-of covers album would appear to open it up to some commercial risk, there’s a lack of risk-taking in the arrangements. Most of the songs on Raise The Roof have three chords – or less! – with lyrics that are little more than a patchwork of overused phrases from country love songs and blues cliches. But the return of producer T Bone Burnett, and some excellent choices of guests including Bill Frisell, master of understated playing, and pedal steel guitarist Russ Pahl, transforms them into something a bit more special.
words ISABEL THOMAS