Crate Digging: Alex Lodge, Thirtytwo Music

Crate Digging is a music discovery platform where contributors take home and discuss two records from across Concord Recorded Music’s active and historical labels.

Director at ThirtyTwo Music, Alex Lodge, talks through his top Concord releases.

My first choice is Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. I picked this release because of my growing obsession with T Bone Burnett and what he brings to projects. I’ve listened to this album a lot recently, and though it’s not something I’d usually like, something about it keeps pulling me back. 

Raising Sand is one of the slickest, smoothest productions you'll hear. It's a duet album of covers from Led Zep's Robert Plant and honey smooth country star Alison Krauss. It shouldn't work, the whole idea is a car crash, but it's fantastic. It's a huge album but is loved by people like Rick Rubin and Keiran Hebden of Four Tet. It’s also one of the frontline albums that the heads love. 

Robert Plant's voice is completely different from his Led Zep days, he brings a real maturity and gravitas to the proceedings. Alison Krauss is obviously a master, and the combination of them both works perfectly. The arrangements are simple and graceful, leaving room for the voices to shine. 

From a sync perspective I’d say ‘Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us’ could work well for advertising. However, ‘Killing The Blues’ really shows off the combination of the two singers. Their tones compliment each other so well, it's simple and it stands out. The real victory of the whole production and the idea behind it shows in this track. Music doesn't have to be complicated, virtuosic or in your face to stand out. Sometimes simplicity is the best approach.

When choosing a catalogue release, I picked Terry Callier’s The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier because I’d never heard it before, but as soon as I put it on it blew me away. Everything about this record is strange, even down to the balance between the vocals and guitar. 

The New Folk Sound Of Terry Callier is a folk album recorded in 1965 by an African American artist. It’s an incredible experience to hear folk songs being infused with soul, jazz and blues. Callier’s voice is insane and the mix rides it crazily high over the guitar in places, but it works. The guitar playing also deserves a mention. 

Songs like ‘Johnny Be Gay If You Can Be’ combine a wonderful mix of traditional folk and blues that really stands out. There’s definitely a song or two on this record that could provide the perfect hidden gem for sync. 

Terry Callier is a real oddity but everything on this record is exactly where it should be. 

If you’d like to know more, or you’re keen to discover more of our repertoire, please contact: tom.frank@concord.com.