Robert Plant/Carry Fire
Review
Robert Plant’s most recent recording. If you are a diehard Zeppelin fan hoping for something to remind you of an old Zeppelin song, the nods are subtle. And that is not a bad thing.
An album from an artist that continues to grow and create. From time to time it also sounds like he might have listened to some of Peter Gabriel’s most recent studio album. Large portions of Carry Fire were recorded at Gabriel’s Real World Studios and several of the songs have a feel similar to what you would expect from Gabriel, and that’s a good thing. For the most part, is written entirely by Plant and members of the band, The Sensational Space Shifters. There seems to be a tone to the album, a cohesiveness. Even the one cover song, a rockabilly song by Ersel Hickey, fits in as if it were just another of the songs by Plant and the band. Struggling to find the single word that describes the “theme” I sense in the album I had to pick one word: maturity. There is an overall sense of sober reflection on the past, the present, and the future.
Over his career Plants love of Eastern music emerges, from Kashmir with Led Zeppelin to the album’s title song, “Carry Fire”. The instruments chosen by his band reflect many musical influences that run the gamut from African drums, Arabin stringed instruments to vintage Moog synthesizers. Songs like “The May Queen” and “Dance With You Tonight” build a foundation with the African drums, layer various Eastern and Egyptian acoustic instruments and then throw in a smidge of Moog. Sound interesting? It is.
There are some songs that rock but even those have lyrics that are deep and reflective. That makes perfect sense. Robert Plant will turn 70 before taking the stage September 15th 2018 Town Park for the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. There are several songs that seem to be a reflection on his Zeppelin days and his friend Jimmy Page. “Seasons Song” appears to have Plant looking back at what it meant to be a “rock god”. Let’s face it. He wasn’t just a rock god. He was The Rock God. There has to be a lot of baggage with the life he lived as part of Zeppelin. “Seasons Song” seems to suggest Plant can look at the guy that was in Zeppelin and where he is now and have not just a peace, but joy.
The album’s title song, “Carry Fire” just might be a subtle message to Jimmy Page and all of those that long for a Zeppelin reunion. The lyric “I carry fire for you” suggests a clear fondness for what was and the creative fire that burned with Page but for Plant, that particular fire “scarred” him but “I’m reaching out to you, across the broken days…” Plant sings with raw emotion.
I mentioned that at times there is a sense of Peter Gabriel’s influence. The use of synthesizers, keyboard loops and non-traditional rhythms and percussion instruments remind one subtly of Gabriel. “A Way with Words”, “Keep It Hid”, parts of “Carry Fire” and even the arrangement of the lone cover, “Bluebirds Over the Mountain” have a familiar feel to those who know Gabriel’s music. “Bluebirds Over the Mountain” gets a special mention with Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) sharing vocals with Mr. Plant. They sound great together.
Robert Plant’s Carry Fire is a natural progression of his art. There are hints and nods to previous things he has done musically but each of the songs seems fresh. Carry Fire is not an easy first listen. It may take a time or two for the layers and rhythms to reach connect. Is there a hit? Not even close. And that’s a good thing.
In The Media Room | by Artistic Systems 