The multi-Grammy winning odd couple reunite after 14 years for their second album - here's all you need to know about their new LP Raise the Roof...
Back in 2007 the somewhat unlikely pairing of country-bluegrass singer Alison Krauss and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant scored a surprise hit with their first collaborative album Raising Sand, a dreamy, soulful blend of contrasting styles that saw the pair win no fewer than six Grammys for their efforts, including Album of the Year.
Now, 14 years later, the pair have reunited once again for their second outing as a duo.
Their new album Raise the Roof makes its arrival in stores this week, here’s everything you need to know…
A little background…
After the unexpected success of Raising Sand, which debuted at No. 2 in the Billboard chart, a follow-up was always a possibility, but it’s been a long time coming. Rumours of a second album had been circulating for years and their even attempted to cut some new tracks with producer Daniel Lanois, although neither Krauss nor Plant were overly enthusiastic about the results.
But the pair hadn’t completely given up on the idea and it was the opening track from the new album, ‘Quattro (World Drifts In)’, that proved to be the spark the pair needed, with Krauss saying in a statement that hearing that song “was the moment I knew we’d make another album.”
Confirmation came in August this year with the announcement of the album’s title, along with the release of the lead single for their new LP ‘Can’t Let Go’.
Who’s producing it?
As with their previous album Raising Sand, veteran producer T. Bone Burnett is handling production duties across the whole album.
Any special guests?
Nope, it’s just the pair of them working their magic here.
What does it sound like?
Both the outstanding opener and its following track ‘The Price of Love’ offer a gentle introduction, while slow but insistent rhythms pulse underneath Krauss and Plant’s swirling harmonies.
There’s a bluesy swing to ‘Trouble With My Lover, which serves as another of the album’s highlights along with the chugging stomp of tracks like ‘High and Lonesome’ and ‘Somebody Was Watching Over Me’ and the mournful, twinkling country-blues of ‘Last Kind Words Blues’.
Elsewhere there’s the Springsteen-esque rock balladry of ‘Go Your Way’, the rock ‘n’ roll jive of ‘Can’t Let Go’ and the lilting ‘Going Where the Lonely Go’, which is perhaps as close as the new album gets to going ‘full country’.
Does it deliver?
Absolutely it does. Their first album together kicked of something of a creative rennaisance for the former Led Zeppelin man, who has delivered three excellent solo albums of his own since Raising Sand, but he plays a different role when performing alongside Krauss and there’s something undeniably magical at times about the way their vices blend.
If you enjoyed Raising Sand and have been longing for more, Raise the Roof won’t disappoint.
Raise the Roof is available in hmv stores now - you can also find it here in our online store.
