An advanced stream of Robert Plant’s new album, Carry Fire, which arrives via Nonesuch/Warner Bros. at all music retailers and streaming services on Friday, October 13th, is available now at IrishTimes.com (restricted to certain territories).

Carry Fire is now available for pre-order. Plant’s eleventh solo album and first full-length release since 2014’s lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar, was produced by the singer 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.

Plant and the Space Shifters are also joined on Carry Fire by a number of special guests. 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, 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. 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.”

Tracklisting:

“The May Queen”
“New World...”
“Season's Song”
“Dance With You Tonight”
“Carving Up The World Again…A Wall And Not A Fence”
“A Way With Words”
“Carry Fire”
“Bones Of Saints”
“Keep It Hid”
“Bluebirds Over The Mountain”
“Heaven Sent”

“Bluebirds Over The Mountain”:

"Bones Of Saints”:

“The May Queen” lyric video:

Robert Plant tour dates:

November
16 - Plymouth, UK - Pavilions
17 - Bristol, UK - Colston Hall
20 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic
22 - Llandudno, UK - Venue Cymru
24 - Newcastle, UK - City Hall
25 - Liverpool, UK - Olympia
27 - Glasgow, UK - SEC Armadillo
28 - Perth, UK - Concert Hall
30 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo

December
2 - Belfast, Ireland - Ulster Hall
6 - Sheffield, UK - City Hall
8 - London, UK - Royal Albert Hall
11 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall
12 - Birmingham, UK - Symphony Hall

February
9 - Raleigh, NC - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
11 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
12 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall
14 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
16 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
17 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
20 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
22 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
24 - Denver, CO - Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
26 - Phoenix, AZ - Symphony Hall
28 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

March
2 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre