PHILIPPE PARINGAUX CHRONICLE MAGAZINE ROCK & FOLK October 1970 No. 45 page 78/81 3 albums 33 RPM 1970 Ref: 940051 Atlantic But what makes us so still run? How is made Led Zeppelin, so that one gets caught every time his stuff? The frame of his art is too coarse, too obvious to withstand analysis, willingness to commercialism too. Two albums already seemed to have exhausted all possibility of surprise, the rest would only be repeating tics formidably effective, certainly, the first or the second time, but considerably worn thereafter. The vocal acrobatics Plant, the thundering riffs Page, Bonham of the blacksmith tempo, flawless implementation and artificial violence but so well proportioned that it never misses its effect, is what made the success, triumph of Led Zeppelin. Once these known ingredients absorbed, it was hardly expect new. And yet .... it was reckoning without the "nose" of Jimmy Page, who was not long to feel where today came the successful wind, which did not hesitate to borrow his group apparently new path for him, while - not insane - in maintaining intact this mode of expression that made Led Zeppelin what it is. A shared drive, so, half and half, between a net folk music trend, acoustic, and electric heavy rock completely - even in the voice of Plant - that we know well. And it works. Once again it is caught in the charm of this superb raccrocheur p.tain, to foil his fake jewelry, bright smile to her strong joys. It goes up, and you pay a miracle, we are not disappointed. Perhaps, after all, is it better p.tain one who knows his art that tendron inexperienced ... Zeppelin knows his job on the fingertips, the two faces of this album testify, and especially the two pieces of openings, "The Immigrant Song" (opening track director) and especially "Gallows Pole", amazing delivery to date of a folk ballad. Banjos, dobros, acoustic guitars, violins same ("Friends"), all these unusual instruments are used for the group - who doubted? - In the most efficient way, the service of a simplicity and freshness that are known false but which are no less effect. Oh, this is not "Workingman's Dead", of course, Led Zeppelin is far, far away from the earth, but one must take his hat to so much talent and cunning. And this album also allows to discover that Robert Plant is a pretty amazing singer ("That's The Way"), even especially when it does not try to imitate an electric guitar, and Jimmy Page knows how to use a wonderfully Gibson dry or a dobro. Even when he cut the power, Zeppelin remains a formidably heavy and dramatic group, lacking any subtlety, fully stretched toward this goal it has set since its creation: excite the senses at all costs. Nobody on that front, can not compete with him.
