Review by Paul Monkhouse for MPM
Always one of the most classy acts in the hard rock firmament, few could touch UFO and when last orders were called and the door finally closed on the band two years ago a little light went out in the hearts of many.
Their history had always been somewhat tumultuous, the mercurial talents and shifting line-ups sometimes providing a volatile combination that, at its best, saw a seismic output of stone cold classics, but always front and centre was singer Phil Mogg.
One of the most individual vocalists ever to stand behind a microphone, his fine voice and nuanced delivery saw him deliver the soul in the midst of the high decibel storm that was UFO, his chops much closer to Frank Sinatra than anyone like Robert Plant, Ian Gillan or Bruce Dickinson.
Whilst certainly not delving into big band territory, ‘Moggs Motel’ sees the man spreading his wings and the rocking is shot through with other elements that bring sparks of a different hue.
With old friend Neil Carter by his side on guitar and keys, along with six stringer Tommy Gentry, drummer Joe Lazarus and Tony Newton on bass and keys, Mogg brings together twelve tracks that shine with the quality of his old outfit, his seal very much on it all.
He may be the man with his name on the project, but this has the feel of a group effort, all five men bringing their A game and having a ball whilst doing it. This is obviously an important album for the main man but there’s also a sense of freedom outside of his former band’s brand, this a new project and embraced warmly as such away from undue expectation.
Mogg is on top form here and opener ‘Apple Pie’ is a robust, blues-tinged rocker that has a big groove, the fretwork tasty. The pneumatic and muscular ‘Sunny Side of Heaven’ follows, shot full of soul that’s heightened with some female backing vocals and things get darker and more menacing on ‘Face of an Angel’, the whole magnificent and atmospheric.
There’s joy in the little touches too, both the playing and production adding moments and layers that light up the synapses, the fretwork of Carter and Gentry sublime and full of grit whilst Lazarus and Newton provide a drive that really swings. From the heroically sweeping ‘I Thought I Knew You’, a brawling ‘Princess Bride’ and the epic ‘Other People’s Lives’, there’s a lot of take in and enjoy, the sonic textures and moods of the release ever flowing, the lyrics amongst some of Mogg’s best and most revealing.
Arguably, the nearest the album comes to sounding like UFO is on ‘Wrong House’ with its thrilling punch but the Stonesy swagger of ‘Tinker Taylor’ is ‘Gimme Shelter’ but with more dirt in its London roots and the shining melody of ‘Shane’ could become a radio staple in the Mid-West of the States.
Throwing in a curveball is something that’s given space here too and the short instrumental ‘Harry’s Place’ filmic quality keys more into the spirit of a soundtrack for an uber cool sixties or seventies movie than a high decibel blast of raucous rock ‘n’ roll. Similarly, ‘Storyville’ closes these doors on a cool note for this chapter but, with health issues being dealt with, hopefully this is just the start of a brand new journey from one of the biggest talents out there.
Whilst the hope is that there’ll be some road work between stops, for the moment ‘Moggs Motel’ is the perfect place to reside and enjoy a brilliant new story from the master and his mates. All you could hope for and much, much more.
Photo by Charlie Smith
Line-Up:
Phil Mogg – vocals
Tony Newton – bass, keyboards
Neil Carter – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Joe Lazarus – drums
Tommy Gentry – guitar
For more information, please visit:
http://philmogg.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/UFOofficial
https://www.facebook.com/SPVsteamhammer
