LED ZEPPELIN - KASHMIR

Llançament: 24 de febrer de 1975

Àlbum: Physical Graffiti

"Kashmir" és una cançó reconeguda de Led Zeppelin, inclosa al seu àlbum "Physical Graffiti" llançat el 1975. Va ser elaborada durant tres anys per Jimmy Page i Robert Plant, amb aportacions de John Bonham. John Paul Jones no va rebre crèdit d'autoria per a la cançó.

"Kashmir" es destaca com un dels grans èxits de Led Zeppelin, envoltat d'una atmosfera de misteri i amenaça. El seu debut va ser impactant, amb el tema oriental i el seu ritme hipnòtic mostrant la destresa innovadora de la banda. Inicialment titulada "Driving To Kashmir," la lletra va ser inspirada per unes vacances de Robert Plant al Marroc, on la va escriure mentre travessava el Sahara espanyol. El paisatge desert infinit va inspirar un somni de trobar un paradís personal a Kashmir, malgrat la seva disparitat geogràfica amb el Marroc.

"Kashmir" va sorgir d'una demo elaborada per Jimmy Page i John Bonham, utilitzant unes proves d’afinació de guitarra dels treballs anteriors de Page com "White Summer" i "Black Mountain Side." John Paul Jones va contribuir a l'arranjament, incorporant acords amb so marroquí tocats en una guitarra Danelectro i complementats per músics de corda de sessió.

Robert Plant va expressar la seva admiració per "Kashmir" no només per la seva intensitat, sinó també perquè desafiava l'etiqueta de heavy metal que a la banda no li agradava. Plant va destacar la percussió de John Bonham com a clau per a l'èxit de la cançó, assenyalant que la seva contenció la feia efectiva. Jimmy Page va recordar la qualitat hipnòtica de la intensitat de la cançó durant la seva creació, destacant la col·laboració inicial entre ell i John Bonham a Headley Grange. 

El representant de Zeppelin, Peter Grant, va recordar la demo inicial de "Kashmir" com a fantàstica, però inicialment sonava com un lament. Per millorar la pista, es va portar una orquestra pakistanesa, orquestrada per John Paul Jones, resultant en la versió final que captava perfectament l'atmosfera desitjada. Page va explicar que va reconèixer la necessitat d'elements orquestrals per complementar les parts de guitarra, proporcionant a la cançó la profunditat d'una simfonia.

La cançó es va destacar per la seva marxa lenta, ponderosa i tenebrosa, desafiant les tendències de rock contemporani. John Paul Jones va assenyalar que "Kashmir" tenia tot el que definia Led Zeppelin, barrejant antigues melodies de blues, elements psicodèlics i la muscularitat característica de la banda amb una atrevida infusió d'influències exòtiques. Considerada com una primerenca fusió de rock i World music, "Kashmir" va ser considerada per la banda com un punt culminant de la seva carrera.

LED ZEPPELIN - KASHMIR

Released: February 24, 1975

Album: Physical Graffiti

"Kashmir" is a renowned song by Led Zeppelin, featured on their album "Physical Graffiti" released in 1975. It was crafted over three years by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, with input from John Bonham. John Paul Jones did not receive a writing credit for the song.

"Kashmir" stands as one of Led Zeppelin's greatest achievements, enveloped in an atmosphere of mystery and menace. Its debut was impactful, with its pulsating Eastern theme and hypnotic rhythm showcasing the band's innovative prowess. Originally titled "Driving To Kashmir," the song's lyrics were inspired by Robert Plant's holiday in Morocco, where he wrote them while traversing the Spanish Sahara. The endless desert landscape sparked a dream of finding a personal paradise in Kashmir, despite its geographical disparity from Morocco.

"Kashmir" emerged from a demo crafted by Jimmy Page and John Bonham, utilizing a guitar tuning reminiscent of Page's previous works like "White Summer" and "Black Mountain Side." John Paul Jones contributed to the arrangement, incorporating Moorish-sounding chords played on a Danelectro guitar and complemented by session string players. 

Robert Plant expressed his admiration for "Kashmir" not just for its intensity but also because it defied the heavy metal label the band disliked. Plant emphasized John Bonham's drumming as pivotal to the song's success, noting that it was his restraint that made it effective. Jimmy Page recalled the hypnotic quality of the song's intensity during its creation, noting the initial collaboration between him and John Bonham at Headley Grange. The iconic guitar riff originated from a tuning cycle Jimmy Page had been using for years. 

Zeppelin's manager, Peter Grant, recalled the early demo of "Kashmir" as fantastic, but initially sounding like a dirge. To enhance the track, a Pakistani orchestra was brought in, orchestrated by John Paul Jones, resulting in the final version that perfectly captured the desired atmosphere. Page explained that he recognized the need for orchestral elements to complement the guitar parts, providing the song with the depth of a symphony. 

The song stood out for its slow, ponderous, and doomy vibe, defying contemporary rock trends. John Paul Jones remarked that "Kashmir" had everything that defined Led Zeppelin, blending ancient blues, psychedelic elements, and the band's signature muscularity with a daring infusion of exotic influences. Seen as an early fusion of rock and world music, "Kashmir" was regarded by the band as a career highlight.