If you are one of the people that thinks that UFO are a band with a reputation and a past but not much in the way of a present or future then you need to listen to The Visitor, because so much of what is great about UFO is all over this record. OK, Pete Way is nowhere to be seen due to his ongoing health problems but, with no disrespect intended, he really isn’t missed – and with three original members on board it’s not like this is one guy who made the tea on the Lights Out tour dragging the name through the dirt.
Phil Mogg is still in tremendous voice, his vocal lines delivered with his customary effortless class. The veteran vocalist has really turned in some of his best performances for years, particularly on the smooth, slinky grooves of ‘Living Proof’. Also really stamping his authority on The Visitor is guitar wizard Vinnie Moore who’s now been part of the UFO set up for six years. He studs all these songs with some explosive fretwork whilst never overshadowing the melodies, the hooks or his band mates’ sterling work. The solo on ‘Helldriver’ is quite outstanding and that song is perhaps Vinnie’s showpiece for the album.
The production on this album is warm, rich and organic – lending a lovely tone to the guitar and allowing you to appreciate each element of the band’s sound, even the laidback, understated but unassumingly brilliant drumming of Andy Parker. Of course it is the songs themselves that make an album great and the ten tracks on The Visitor were selected from thirty five new compositions, so they’re the cream of the crop – and it shows. There are absolutely no fillers and no weak tracks. ‘Can’t Buy Me A Thrill’ reminds me of the fabulous $ign Of Four project that Phil Mogg fronted in 2002, ‘Forsaken’ is a simply brilliant ballad, ‘Villains And Thieves’ a punchy, memorable rocker to which Paul Raymond adds some quality keyboards in the style of the great Jon Lord on early Whitesnake… the list just goes on.
This is not the sound of a band past its prime, dragging itself onwards in the face of all good sense. The Visitor is a classy album that deserves its place in UFO’s history and deserves to be heard. It’s an album that will undoubtedly stand the test of time and all the songs are delivered with feeling and intent – nobody’s going through the motions here! UFO’s career to date has seen them reach some dizzying heights and plummet to some pretty dark depths as well, but The Visitor should certainly give them the opportunity to soar high once again. A tremendous album of classic hard rock.
http://www.ufo-music.info/
