Moggs Motel – Moggs Motel
Steamhammer/SPV (September 6th, 2024)
Reviewer: Grant Foster
I have to be honest. UFO aren’t a band that I ever was into in a big way. I acknowledged their longevity and even spent some time with them on a Monsters of Rock cruise once. My favourite track? ‘Lights Out‘.
Phil Mogg is a survivor. Where some of his one time band mates have fallen by the rock wayside, the Moggster survives. He may not have one of the greatest voices in rock, but he has a unique and distinctive delivery that sets him apart.
Just when you thought with the end of UFO, that Phil would be taking things easy, he releases ‘Moggs Motel‘. Note – no apostrophe, so technically it doesn’t belong to him. But it definitely belongs to us all.
Aboard for the ride are bassist and collaborator Tony Newton, long time UFO alumni Neil Carter on guitar, keyboards and vocals, drummer Joe Lazarus and guitarist Tommy Gentry.
It was recorded in Steve Harris’ studio in Essex.
Let’s get the obvious question out of the way first. Does it sound like UFO?
I have a friend who swears that what he has heard of the album so far sounds a little like latter day UFO. He may well be right but as I haven’t wrapped my ears around any, I’ll bow to his greater knowledge.
On first listening, it sounds a lot more modern and edgy than I was expecting. Which is no bad thing.
First track ‘Apple Pie‘ is the lead from the album and from the off the shimmering guitar is front and centre, a theme that perpetuates throughout. The velvet tones of Phil are still intact, caressing and soulfully delivering each line. The Frank Sinatra of rock if you will.
Joe Lazarus powers this song muscularly and it’s a good start.
‘Sunny Side of Heaven‘ features the angel meets devil vocals of Zoe Devin Love which backs up a ZZ Top inspired groove rocker, albeit with a modern twist.
From where the devils come to meet we move onto ‘Face of an Angel‘. The opening could have been from Get Carter and then moves suddenly into a Western flavour. It’s a very open tune, occasionally just the drums and Phil’s vocal, then chugging, then becoming more intricate and then picks up into a swing during the guitar solo. Tony Newton’s bass work deserve a mention on this track.
‘I Thought I Knew You‘. Quite an apt title as it almost hints at modern Maiden (is this your doing Mr Newton?!) at the short introduction.
Once again the guitar work drives the song along with a chord changing chorus that will work its way into your brain immediately. It also boasts a very cool guitar solo.
‘Princess Bride‘ is the most standard of all the songs in terms of its format, but think of Blackfoot on their ‘Tomcattin’’ album and you’d be in the right ball park. It’s wrapped around a good harmony guitar signature part. The female backing vocals certainly add to its charm.
‘Other People’s Lives‘ segues straight in, with the toll of a bell and hark, there’s that modern Maiden influence again! But it helps set the scene, according to Phil, for a good day for a hanging or a wedding. Really atmospheric in places, it’s almost brooding during the verses. Cue another impressive guitar solo over another impressive breakdown. Once it gets its hooks into you, there’s no escape.
Time for a romper stomper. ‘Tinker Tailor‘ is all over you like a cheap, or in Phil’s case, expensive suit. It sits on a groove a mile wide during the verse, that I’m almost begging for a 12’’ remix that goes on forever. Does anyone even remember such things?!
‘Weather‘ brings back those shimmering guitars, a mid paced bluesy rumble.
‘Harry’s Place‘ is a cinematic piece not out of place – no pun intended on a 60’s spy adventure. Strange but compelling.
Segueing straight into Tony Newton’s bass on ‘Wrong House‘, this is is an uptempo with a scratchy verse and sees Phil singing in a higher register.
You can’t beat a bit of the old Joanna. It opens ‘Shane‘, where the cowboy trails are covered in rust. Some nice harmony guitar parts on this.
‘Storyville‘ closes proceedings. The type of song that UFO did so well and it might not have been out of place on ‘No Place To Run’. Atmospheric and classy.
This album is well crafted, expertly played, has song-writing of a very high standard which establishes the sound of Moggs Motel.
I’ve seen reviews that say it’s not reinventing the wheel in terms of rock music, but that does an injustice to it. What it does is gives you a completely new set of wheels that give you an oh so much better ride.
Buy it!
Tracklist:
01. Apple Pie
02. Sunny Side Of Heaven
03. Face Of An Angel
04. I Thought I Knew You
05. Princess Bride
06. Other People’s Lives
07. Tinker Tailor
08. Weather
09. Harry’s Place
10. Wrong House
11. Shane
12. Storyville
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