Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

was very happy today to find a copy of robert plant's the principle of moments, his 1983 solo debut, on cassette for $0.50 at goodwill today. I've never owned this record, and only know two songs, the singles "big log" and "in the mood" (I'll get to the rest of it soon). but what singles! I still remember hearing both tracks ad infinitum on q95 back in '83 and into '84. "in the mood" has an almost mechanical-sounding drum track - especially near the end, when they slap on the reverb & echo - combined with a lot of synth, something we weren't so accustomed to hearing from plant at the time. his lyrics, however, were as quizzical as ever. take "big log"'s line "my love is in league with the freeway" - what the fuck?! the song's guitar work, by coproducer and cowriter robbie blunt, is miles away from jimmy page's work, all strategically picked, nice and staccato leads which sound best late at night under cover of darkness. but these aren't zepellin-eque rockers; this is much more subtle work, with more concern given to atmosphere than bombast (of which there's precious little to be found, in fact). it's the move plant needed to make, veering into a solo career (i.e. doing something which wouldn't remind listeners of his old band), and he made it well.