Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have collaborated on a wonderful album that brings many genres, from folk and rock to country and blues, together. Plant is the vocalist of heavy metal pioneers Led Zeppelin, while Krauss is a renowned American bluegrass-country singer and violinist. Although their roots are in very different musical worlds, the unlikely duo complements each other beautifully, with Krauss' pure vocals bringing tenderness to Plant's world-weary hard-rock whine. Their performances on songs like Killing the Blues, Your Long Journey and the energetic Gone Gone Gone are reminiscent of Johnny Cash and June Carter: beautiful, fresh and mesmerising. Other highlights include the heartbreaking Through the Morning, Through the Night and the moody Polly Come Home, which were originally recorded by legendary country rock duo Dillard & Clark in 1969. Produced by T Bone Burnett, the legendary musician who toured as a guitarist with Bob Dylan, Raising Sand was one of the best albums released in 2007. Burnett produces a uniquely atmospheric and evocative sound, which suits the songs on the album that don't shy away from the sad realities of life. Put simply, Raising Sand is a classic.
