Carry Fire is Plant’s 11th solo studio album
Robert Plant has announced a new solo album called Carry Fire, due October 13th via Nonesuch/Warner Bros. Records. The album’s first track, “The May Queen,” will be available instantly with each digital pre-order. Nonesuch Store pre-orders also include an exclusive limited-edition print featuring an image from the album art.
Carry Fire, Plant’s 11th solo album and first full-length release since 2014’s acclaimed lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar, was produced by Plant in the west of England and Wales, at Top Cat studio in Box, Wiltshire with additional recordings at Real World and Rockfield studios. As with lullaby, Plant is accompanied by The Sensational Space Shifters: John Baggott on keyboards, moog, loops, percussion, drums, brass arrangement, t’bal, snare drum, slide guitar, piano, electric piano, bendir; Justin Adams on guitar, acoustic guitar, oud, E-bow quartet, percussion, snare drum, tambourine; Dave Smith on bendir, tambourine, djembe, drum kit; and Liam “Skin” Tyson on dobro, guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, twelve-string.
A number of special guests make appearances on the project. Chrissie Hynde joins Plant on the duet “Bluebirds Over The Mountain” (written by rockabilly legend Ersel Hickey and later recorded by both Richie Valens and The Beach Boys). Albanian cellist Redi Hasa performs on three tracks, as does the celebrated Seth Lakeman on viola and fiddle.
Plant and the Space Shifters will launch a world tour in November 2017 starting in the UK and Ireland before hitting “all corners of the globe.” Dates will be announced soon.
Plant, who lived in Texas for a time before returning to his native England three years ago, together with his friends, present the songs Carry Fire, melding unusual rhythms with naturalism and smoldering power.
“It’s about intention, I respect and relish my past works but each time I feel the lure and incentive to create new work. I must mix old with new,” he states. “Consequently the whole impetus of the band has moved on its axis somewhat, the new sound and different space giving way to exciting and dramatic landscapes of mood, melody and instrumentation.”
1. The May Queen
2. New World….
3. Season’s Song
4. Dance With You Tonight
5. Carving Up the World Again…a wall and not a fence
6. A Way With Words
7. Carry Fire
8. Bones of Saints
9. Keep It Hid
10. Bluebirds Over the Mountain
11. Heaven Sent