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Liam Carey reviews
Dreamland
Mercury
- Year: 2002
- Rating: 8/10
- Cat. No: 063 025-2
Track listing:
- 1. Funny In My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ To Die)
2. Morning Dew
3. One More Cup Of Coffee
4. Last Time I Saw Her
5. Song To The Siren
6. Win My Train Fare Home (If I Ever Get Lucky)
7. Darkness, Darkness
8. Red Dress
9. Hey Joe
10. Skip’s Song
11. Dirt In A Hole
There are few better voices in Rock, either past or present, than that of former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. If anything, age has improved its timbre, expanded its range and increased its subtletly – not for Plant the ignominy of becoming a pale imitation of his younger self as the years wear on.
Dreamland is his first solo album in 9 years, the interim taken up with the small matter of reuniting with Led Zep cohort Jimmy Page for two well-received albums, No Quarter and Walking Into Clarksdale. Those records dispensed with the contemporary stylings and trappings of Plant’s own releases between 1988 and 1993, which judiciously utilised synthesizers, samples and drum machines to augment his trademark lothario rock’n’roll, with impressive if largely overlooked results.
Here, eight interpretations of 60’s blues and folk classic by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tim Rose, Jimi Hendrix and Tim Buckley sit alongside a handful of originals penned by Plant and various members of his current backing band. Traditional, and somewhat retro, Dreamland feels more of a labour of love, a long-awaited pilgrimage back to the music that inspired him as a youth, than a contrived “going back to my roots, man” venture in lieu of fresh ideas.
Songs as overly-familiar as Song To The Siren and Hey Joe are injected with a masterful air of restrained authority, interpreted with a purity that suggests they were written only yesterday rather than 30 or 40 years ago. Plant breathes fresh life into every word and phrase, lovingly caressing the nuances and proving there are a few to rival his assured touch. Less is often more.
While there are fewer surprised contained within Dreamland than, say, Now And Zen (1988) or Manic Nirvana (1990), it bears all the hallmarks of Robert Plant’s finest work. Evocative, intelligent and a masterclass in how to remain a living Rock legend without sacrificing one iota of vitality.
Young pretenders take note; Plant is still the king, and he’s not about to give up his crown just yet.
Review copyright © Liam Carey, 2002. E-mail Liam Carey
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.