Album Reviews

Howard Stern is probably today's best interviewer still standing now that Charlie Rose is sidelined, though his recent Robert Plant sit-down was among his least effective. Stern was so looking forward to having Plant in the studio that he sort of forgot why Plant agreed to visit in the first place. Plus his usually crack research team dropped the ball.

Plant wanted to talk about Carry Fire his latest Nonesuch album released last fall but all Stern wanted to talk about of course was Led Zeppelin. "We'll get to that", Stern kept saying, "but first.....". The impatient Plant tried to coax Stern back to his agenda by calling him "grandfather", which somehow Stern let pass.

Adding to the aggravation, Stern made clear by his questions that he did not know the antecedents to many Led Zeppelin songs and instead credited the band for having originated them, which must have made Plant somewhat uncomfortable. That's where Stern's research crew let him down.

No wonder Plant wanted to concentrate on this complex, immersive new release that deftly channels the mystery and power of his old band while moving the 69 year old into fresh new musical territory. Plant's lyrical interests are 100% contemporary. The songs tackle among the topics imperialism, immigration, gun violence and the unseen forces that are shaping and forming the world into an ugly, dangerous place—all observed sagaciously and minus preaching—backed by a skillfully arranged world musical melange of exotic instruments both physical and virtual.

Plant is in fine voice. His shouting days are long gone, replaced by a supple, sensuous simmer still takes listeners to otherworldly places. There's a fresh cover of "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" with Chrissie Hynde putting in an overdubbed appearance. Thanks to the fine recording and mix, Carry Fire is meant for in-depth listening. Plant isn't here to explain the mess we're in but rather to amp up its unsettling emotional intensity. You'll come away from a play feeling "in the moment", but don't expect it to be comforting. You'll also realize why Plant wanted to first talk about the new record on Stern's show: he's moved far beyond his Led Zeppelin days and he's not particularly interested in looking back.

The record spans 3 vinyl sides, with the fourth being an etching of the inner gatefold artwork. Attractively packaged, well-pressed on middle weight vinyl at Pallas, Carry Fire makes clear that Robert Plant can still harness and channel the exotic old world mystery that made what's that band's name such a dominant musical force way back in the 1970's while breathing fresh life into the musical genre that only appeared as oldies nostalgia at the recent Grammy Awards. Despite being recorded at more than 1/2 dozen studios, the record sounds richly drawn, fully realized and satisfyingly coherent. It also doesn't skip on dynamics.