NO QUARTER UNLEDDED

Well, I guess that after years of haunting Percy, Pagey finally got his will to revive Zep in some sort of way or form, despite Plant's better judgment. Well with the absence of Bonzo, Plant didn't want to use the Zep name, and in all likelihood, this lead into shunning bassist Jonesy, which means that the project bore the Page-Plant name. The project was initiated for an MTV Unplugged show and it evolved into the present shape with an album first than the tour & DVD happening later. And although at the time (mid-90's), I had little interest in Zep's revival, I first went voluntarily oblivious of it, until I caught some of these Zep-classic reworks. And the duo managed to reverse my original opinion that they could only cheapen their heritage and damage their reputation. Well I'm glad to be wrong, because both nthe CD and the DVD are simply quite fine and actually enhance the Zep Legacy.

Indeed, working with mostly Plant acolytes as the main other band members (Jones, Lee & Thompson), the group had a younger feel than expected, and the Zep repertoire was solidly rejuvenated through either folkish arrangements (Nobody's Fault, Rain Song, Gallow's Pole, Evermore, , but also different arrangements (Black Dog, No Quarter, Thank You, Levee Breaks, Four Sticks, Friends, etc?) but also two different orchestral adaptations: one being symphonic, the other being more mid-eastern with an Egyptian orchestra (around the end of the filmed gig. But halfway through the concert is interrupted by the duo's pilgrimage to Morocco and whatever musical endeavours and adventures they had there. Rather interesting take on things, and actually those three or four tracks are the only "new material available on this DVD, even if they appeared on the CD first in a different form.

The DVD bonus include a Black Dog (forgettable) version of some kind of music award show, a B&W interview of the duo in the centre of London's streets, some explanation about the Moroccan footage, and some other freebie. An extremely well-made DVD that revives the Zep heritage and does it proud without extreme nostalgia that might have cheapened the whole thing. Prog, you ask? Not in the least (although some orchestral arrangements are rather interesting), but that shouldn't stop you to enjoy this excellent reunion project, one that avoided the usual clichés.