This is the ninth solo album that Robert Plant has made since the demise of Led Zeppelin. It's also the best, probably because it's the one that sounds most like his old band. Unlike members of the rock aristocracy, the craggy-faced one isn't afraid to surround himself with equally talented musicians, and his backing band the Strange Sensations includes ex-members of Massive Attack, Portishead and Cast. Together they brew up a powerful bluesy storm, laced with Moroccan influences and perfectly suited to Plant's wailing vocals. Be warned: there's a distinctly hippy-ish vibe to Mighty Rearranger, and songs about stone circles and letting your love shine all around will remind many people of why prog-rock had to be killed off in the first place. But overall, this is bracing stuff that successfully blurs the lines between past and present glories.
