Ten years ago I watched Robert Plant touring his Priory Of Brion band, playing a spellbinding set of 60s Acid-Rock and Folk-Rock that included versions of Love’s ‘A House Is Not A Motel’ and Donovan’s ‘Season Of The Witch’. Although surprised that all had gone quiet on the Zeppelin friendly Jimmy Page collaborations, if this was to be Plants’ new direction then bring it on. The open minded sensibilities of that late 60s golden period sat well with Plant, seemed to sum up what he was all about musically and close the circle on the journey his 30+ year had taken to that point. But then nothing happened with The Priory Of Brion, it seemed Plant was just having a bit of nostalgic fun while in a state of flux. The ensuing ten years have thrown up a couple of delightful turns in his voyage but luckily, with Band Of Joy, it appears the Acid-Rock seeds sown back in 2000 have been gently fermenting in the back of his mind. There’s nothing that firmly attaches it to a style or period (in the way that the Len Price 3 album certainly does). Nevertheless the roots of the work lay in the Psychedelic heyday for sure, something Plant is giving us a heads up with by re-adopting the name of his pre-Zeppelin band. Then there’s the broad musical palate that works with Heavy-Rock and Blues as merely a starting point. ‘You Can’t Buy My Love’ is so unashamedly Beatles it’ll probably appear on a ‘Nuggets’ set sometime in the future while ‘Falling In Love Again’ has a delicious hint of Doo-Wop amidst the balladry. And as if to prove his wildly eclectic tastes he rescues the obscurity ‘House Of Cards’ from one of Richard Thompson’s rather harshly unloved 1970s albums. You can’t offer an appreciation of this album without giving a nod to the guitar and production of Buddy Miller; he’s bottled the essence of the leading artist every bit as effectively as Daniel Lanois has with Bob Dylan in the past. Also Patty Griffin’s vocals sit nicely behind Robert’s throughout, retaining for this set some of the feel many would have loved on the Alison Krauss album. Above all, you sense that Robert Plant has settled in a place he feels best suits his vision and hope that the Band Of Joy have a bit more in them yet. Listen to the whole album here:
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