Alison Krauss can encapsulate her musical rapport with Robert Plant in a single, flavorful metaphor. She responds, “We’re like a good balsamic vinegar and olive oil,” when asked how her voice—one of the brightest and most respected in bluegrass and American folk music generally—and his—that instantly identifiable tenor—complement each other. They work together because they complement each other rather than clashing.
Plant feels… differently, and he takes great pleasure in elaborating on how and why Krauss’ voice enhances his own, all the while making her laugh. “I see her like a sort of statuesque magnificence, and I feel myself bringing fruit and flowers to her feet as a singer,” he continues. “As a vocalist, I’ve been sort of a weekend tradesman; I’m not a master of any sort.” (More laughing is to be expected, since this was actually said by Led Zeppelin’s lead singer.)
The problem is, while there are many wonderful voices in the world that are loud and possess soul, spirit, and other qualities, are they singers? He goes on. “A song is a song, but how do you really take it from the ground up and navigate the vast expanse of feeling and emotion? Therefore, the reason I’m arranging the fruit and flowers is that she’s a very talented singer. With her fascinatingly, almost compulsively, frantically, wonderfully capable nature, I saw it as an incredible challenge to be in her company. I sort of came in around the corner, with a dustpan and broom, saying, ‘Oh, hey, I’ll put my vocal on this here!’
Krauss continues to chuckle. “It’s joking, it’s funny, but the bottom line is, it’s true!” he says. “I came through this door all those years ago, and I realized I was in serious company.” Since their debut joint album, the Grammy-winning Raising Sands, was released in 2007, Krauss and Plant have been enjoying one other’s company (and often laughing till they cry). After a break of fourteen years, the pair is back with their much awaited follow-up, Raise the Roof (released on November 19). In it, they cover songs by songwriters they love from all across the decades, including Lucinda Williams, Calexico, and Merle Haggard.They were able to try something different and use their voices as vehicles for tunes they wouldn’t have recorded otherwise thanks to the project.
