Artist: UFO
Album: YOU ARE HERE (CD)

Release date: 2004
Media type: CD

The future’s too valuable to waste time dwelling on the past, old hats are there to be thrown out, and the enlistment of guitarist Vinnie Moore and drummer Jason Bonham can only be described as a fountain of youth for UFO. In cooperation with the band’s experienced members, vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way and keyboarder/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, UFO have succeeded in creating a mix on their new album, You Are Here, that can only be called explosive. “It’s been more fun than it had been in a long time to work with these two excellent musicians,” is Phil Mogg’s satisfied comment when asked about his new colleagues. “Jason and Vinnie aren’t just talented individual musicians, they’re also extremely nice guys, which obviously affected the atmosphere during the recordings noticeably.”

That much is apparent on all eleven new songs that Mogg & Co. have recorded at the Area 51 studio in Celle near Hannover/Germany with producer Tommy Newton at the helm. Classic hard rock of the traditional variety, fresh and inspiring at the same time, or, as Mogg describes it, “typical UFO with a twist”, referring to tracks like the powerful ‘The Spark That Is Us’ with its heavy groove, the rocking ‘Slipping Away’, ‘Mr Freeze’ (penned by Mogg and Moore), the haunting ‘Swallow’ (“medium tempo in your face” – quote Mogg), or the programmatic ‘Looking For The Wild One’. Fact is: You Are Here was recorded by virtuoso musicians who combine long-term experience with newly discovered enthusiasm. They are about to present themselves as a strong unit during their upcoming world tour in spring 2004, after all there is one major difference between the current UFO line-up and all previous ones: “There is a homogenous feel of communal spirit in the band.”

Tracklist: 01. Daylight Goes To Town 4:33 02. Black Cold Coffee 3:21 03. The Wild One 5:39 04. Give It Up 4:25 05. Call Me 4:04
06. Slipping Away 4:57 07. The Spark That Is Us 4:12 08. Sympathy 3:48 09. Mr. Freeze 4:43 10. Jelloman 4:14 11. Baby Blue 4:32 12. Swallow 4:30

Produced by Tommy Newton

Line-Up:
Phil Mogg - vocals
Vinnie Moore - guitar
Paul Raymond - keyboards
Pete Way - bass
Jason Bonham - drums