UP ON THE ROOF

Despite rock and roll having been around for half-a-dozen decades, inter-generational collaborations have been far from common. Sure, a young gun will be invited onto the stage at a celebration for some venerable rocker, or an odd couple (say, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett) will put out an LP, but generally the invisible borders between eras are tricky to traverse.

Which makes the partnership between one of the greatest rock frontmen of all time and a bluegrass fiddler several generations younger a notable event. It first happened in 2007 when Robert Plant, the now grizzled rock god who sang Led Zeppelin into the stratosphere, partnered with a bluegrass singer and fiddle player named Alison Krauss. Their Raising Sand album was hugely successful and very popular with fans of Americana, a genre where it won several awards.

The follow-up album, Raise The Roof, took fourteen years to arrive but most will agree it was worth the wait. Produced with clarity and depth by T-Bone Burnett, the album shimmers with opalescent harmonies as the two voices intertwine effortlessly. Yet space is made for each singer to take the lead, as Krauss does on the New Orleans swing of “Trouble with my lover” and Plant on Anne Briggs’ “Go your way”. In fact, it’s a respectful taking of turns to step forward for the verses while the choruses bring the voices together.

The mood is gentle, languid even. An unhurried journey through some fine songs, ranging from The Everly Brothers’ “The price of love” to British folk legend Bert Jansch’s “It don’t bother me”. Although moving beyond Americana, the feel of Raise The Roof retains a sense of prairie space and airy abundance. The subtle yet compelling guitar work from several guests — including Emmylou Harris collaborator Buddy Miller, Marc Ribot and Los Lobos founder David Hildago — contributes greatly to the sound and texture. In fact, anyone who loved Emmylou’s Wrecking Ball or Spyboy would almost certainly respond positively to Raise The Roof.

Knowing the powerful voice of Robert Plant, one sometimes yearns for the band to cut loose and indeed raise the roof with a blast of rock power, perhaps topped with a soaring violin solo from Ms Krauss. But volume and bombast are not what this album is about, so we must settle for some genteel rockabilly (“Can’t let go”, featuring a neat solo from Bill Frisell) and the trot and canter of “High and lonesome” (a Plant/Burnett co-write, the only original on the LP). This is not about pillaging Vikings or losing your home when the levee bursts. It’s a stroll along the lazy river in the early evening, singing of love and loss. It’s about appreciating the moment, about opening the windows of the soul. It’s about raising the roof and appreciating the starry night.