I was born in 1975. It means although I’m old, I am not old enough to have seen the greats in their first flush, as it were. Instead, I had to get into them.on other ways.
UFO I found because I love the Quireboys and Nigel Mogg (Phil’s nephew) was their bass player.
That was enough to see a young man exploring, the songs are why I was hooked.
Now Phil Mogg is back and “Mogg’s Motel” began just after Covid when he met Voodoo Six bassist Tony Newton.
The pair began to collaborate and right from the kick off, this is a brilliant album.
“Apple Pie” builds slow and is unmistakably Mogg. It’s not that it sounds like UFO MK II (although of course it’s hard rock so it has to have a bit of them) it’s just Mogg’s voice.
“Sunny Side Of Heaven” is proof that none of the opener was a flash in the pan. Heavy, energetic and the wonderful harmony vocals top it off.
“Face Of An Angel” is a more unconventional love song. “She makes me do unspeakable things” sings Mogg in a way that makes you think he might be quite proud of himself.
Most of these are written with Newton and are incredibly- and deceptively – catchy. You try getting the chorus of “I Thought I Knew You” out of your head.
Everywhere you look, this is exquisitely done. The twin guitar on “Princess Bride”, or the slower “Other People’s Lives” are two ends of this spectrum, but equally thrilling.
So good is this actually, that choosing a highlight is no easy task. To be truthful, I’ve listened to this record a lot more than I usually would for reviews purposes, and a favourite song altered each time. On this occasion, however, it’s “Tinker Taylor” that takes the honours. The guitar work from Neil Carter and Tommy Gentry (the former a long time Mogg collaborator, the latter is in The Raven Age having been in Gun and more) is sensational.
It is throughout. The opening to “Weather” has hints of Maiden (not just because it was recorded in Steve Harris’ house and drummer Joe Lazarus’ dad is the chap who runs the Maiden fan club).
The weird instrumental “Harry’s Place” should be the incendental music on an episode of “Minder”, while “The Wrong House” has an air of the sinister – indeed many of them do, it’s Mogg’s stock in trade.
“Shane” has sheen of the epic, and the last one “Storyville” is as gentle and blues orientakted as this gets (albeit he does sing “look at my wife, she’s a crazy slice”).
No one thought Phil Mogg was done time was called time on UFO. Whether anyone thought his return would be this brilliant is another question.
When it comes to Mogg’s Motel, you can check in anytime you like but you won’t want to leave.
Rating 9/10
