Robert Plant // Saving Grace
★★★★ (4/5)
Some things are worth the wait. After years of watching Robert Plant move through various musical incarnations looking for the perfect sound, *Saving Grace* feels like the moment he found his tribe. This isn’t just another project from the Led Zeppelin legend – it’s a proper band, forged in small British venues and bonded by a shared love of everything from Memphis Minnie to Low.
The story behind this record is as enchanting as the music itself. Formed just before COVID turned the world upside down, Plant and his new chums, Saving Grace including the sublime Suzi Dian on vocals, spent lockdown crafting this collection in studios across the Cotswolds and Welsh borders. You can almost hear earthy countryside in every note, there’s even the birdsong closing ‘Gospel Plough’ recorded in a field.
I witnessed this magic first-hand when I caught them live in 2023, and the chemistry was undeniable. There’s something beautifully egalitarian about how these musicians operate – Plant, for all his rock god status, is content to step back and let banjo player Matt Worley take the lead on the amazing cover of “Soul of a Man,” or provide backing harmonies whilst Dian commands the spotlight. There are no egos, the music and friendship are more important.
The album opens with ‘Chevrolet,’ a reimagining of Donovan’s ‘Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)’ that immediately recalls Led Zeppelin III’s mix of American bucolic mysticism. Plant’s voice, miraculously preserved at 77, weaves around Dian’s ethereal tones. It’s hypnotic, setting the stage for what follows: a journey through American folk traditions filtered through particularly British sensibilities. What’s most striking is how naturally these covers sit together. Low’s ‘Everybody’s Song’ shouldn’t logically belong on the same album as Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Soul of a Man, yet here they feel like old friends. The band’s take on ‘Ticket Taker’ by The Low Anthem adds muscle to the original’s fragility, whilst ‘Higher Rock’, which features Plant’s wailing harmonica, channels the mountain music that he loves so much.
The fact that most of these musicians live within ten miles of Plant’s favourite Machynlleth pub isn’t just a charming footnote it’s fundamental to the album’s intimate, communal spirit. This is music made by neighbours, friends who happen to be brilliant at their instruments but aren’t precious about showcasing individual talents.
‘Saving Grace’ won’t satisfy those hoping for a return to the thunderous riffs of yesteryear, but it gives us the sound of an artist who’s found peace without losing his creativity. After decades of musical adventure, Plant has landed somewhere that feels like home. And bloody hell, it sounds good.
Robert Plant will be touring the UK with the Saving Grace later this year.
28/29 th September Kingston Upon Thames Guildhall
30 th September London EartH
Monday, December 8: Portsmouth, Guildhall
Tuesday, December 9: Eastbourne, Congress Theatre
Thursday, December 11: London, Royal Festival Hall
Sunday, December 14: Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Monday, December 15: Manchester, Manchester Apollo
Wednesday, December 17: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Thursday, December 18: Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Sunday, December 21: Middlesbrough, Town Hall
Monday, December 22: Newcastle, O2 City Hall
Tuesday, December 23: York, Barbican
Review By: Graeme White