Robert Plant: Saving Grace

Robert Plant has managed to not necessarily reinvent himself, but to continue to surround himself with great musicians and songs that suit his aging but unmistakable voice. His latest offering, Saving Grace, is a collection of cover songs rooted in the American folk and blues traditions, but also dips into indie rock and modern folk genres, as well as some moments of Celtic themes and music of the Balkans. It wouldn't be a Robert Plant record without a bit of the mystic! It is, for the most part, played on acoustic instruments with a few moments of soaring electric guitar, and even some "Levee Breaks" harmonica from Plant. It is an intimate recording, and it captures the beauty of Plant's distinct voice, that of his bandmate Suzi Dian, and the woodiness of the various stringed instruments. The collection spans different eras, with the songs of Memphis Minnie, Moby Grape, and Blind Willie Johnson, to the music of The Low Anthem and Low [Tape Op #31], whom Plant has covered before.

I love what Robert Plant is doing these days, and his lean into Americana and blues music makes all the sense in the world. Led Zeppelin was, after all, a blues band, and his further exploration of the genres is a welcome one. It suits him.

Saving Grace was produced by Plant and his Saving Grace band (Suzi Dian, Oli Jefferson, Tony Kelsey, Barney Morse-Brown, Matt Worley), engineered, mixed, and mastered by Tim Oliver [Tape Op #166] with additional engineering by Andrew Scheps [#133], Mark Kennedy and Albert Stevens. Additional mastering my Greg Calbi [#86] and Steve Fallone. Mastered for vinyl by Joe Nino-Hernes.