By Gisella Farrell
Special to MSN Music

In an exclusive interview with Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss, the artists paint an idyllic scene of music making, telling of a recording studio in Nashville, Tenn., staffed by some of the best-regarded musicians in the world getting experimental with lesser-known blues classics, while one venerable producer -- T-Bone Burnett -- blends the colorful vocals with a quiet artistry.

Illinois-born Alison, 36, (modest winner of more Grammies than any other female artist, don't cha know) and Englishman Robert, 59, believe it's their contrasting vocals (think sweet folky lilt meets wild-man growl) that make "Raising Sand" so special, but agree they have much in common.

"I think we're similar", Alison told us in her soft voice. "I think we look ahead without planning goals. I think that we're fascinated with what's coming our way musically, and we're looking to be inspired."

She continued: "Robert's a very passionate person, very excited. He's the first person I met who didn't roll his eyes when I was talking about music."

"When I met Robert I knew I wouldn't have to worry about us having different musical tastes -- he's not like that. There was no sugarcoating stuff, no misunderstandings, everything was to the point."

That they get along well is an understatement, as Robert joked: "We are just a double act. We should be doing a TV show, not a record. Like 'Morecambe and Wise.'" He added: "I didn't listen to ['Raising Sand'] for a while, after we'd finished it. Then about two weeks before we met up I started playing it again and I thought, 'My God, we've got it!' I thought: This is better than anything. It's so different, it's better than anything I'd hoped for."

Plant is in a genial mood. Although we've been asked not to mention the upcoming Led Zeppelin reunion, he's clearly extremely happy with this latest project, which was seven years in the making. Suddenly, Plant's cell phone rings -- of all the people you'd expect, it's '60s pop star Lulu, arranging a coffee for next week. Krauss doesn't know who she is, so Plant gallantly sings a few bars of Lulu's best-known hit, "Shout," in his gravelly voice. Is another collaboration in the cards? Erm, not with Lulu -- but Plant thinks making "Raising Sand" has been a progressive work, not just a passing side-project.

"I know so many of my contemporaries who really only do this [collaborations] because they're bored," Plant explained. "Because they go, 'Oh, what can I do now?' But if you have any form of artistry you have to keep it fresh. I think that Alison has inspired me. She's very open with me -- well, as much as a woman can be ..."

An old dog like Plant even learned some new tricks for "Raising Sand" -- in particular, singing techniques: "I had to be taught harmonies. Alison is very diligent and really she was teaching me very first steps of something that she's been doing all her life. I didn't know whether I could do it or not. I just tried. It wasn't difficult. I'm proud of the duets, especially 'Killing the Blues,' that's beautiful."

Krauss chipped in: "The sound of us together has a mystery. I like the huge contrast between our voices, which creates a story. It manipulates the listener into feeling something."

"Yes," Plant continued: "Really, our voices work around spectacular instrumentation. So before you start singing you're already in this place. And that's what music is all about. Whether it's 'Whole Lotta Love' or 'Still Long Journey.' The way your long journey is set up before we start is spectacular really. It's pictorial." He thinks for a moment: "A bit like the Spice Girls."

Unlike Posh, Baby, Scary & Co., Plant and Krauss have a more meaningful dynamic going on. Both admit the "man/woman duets" can sound almost like a courtship, as Plant put it, "We got into character, and it is very romantic."

Speaking of chart acts, "Raising Sand" was kept off the No. 1 spot in the album charts by some other veteran rockers -- the Eagles. But Plant's feeling generous toward his old contemporaries: "Well, I think they'll have to hold onto that, with their talons. You can't beat that can you, it's been 28 years since they last put out an album."

Both Krauss and Plant are clearly huge fans of Burnett -- an American singer-songwriter/producer responsible for some of the 20th century's seminal records -- who had such an input on "Raising Sand" that he gets a joint credit on the album cover.

(Story Continues On Next Page...)

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