FERGIE FREDERIKSEN – Any Given Moment (2013)

*

Legendary Toto, Angel and Le Roux vocalist singer/songwriter FERGIE FREDERIKSEN is releasing a new album “Any Given Moment” next week on Frontiers Records.
One of the most respected musicians in Melodic Rock history, Frederiksen keeps faithful and proud to his pedigree, and once you get your ears wrapped around this new recording you’ll understand that he’s the real deal.

This time produced by keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio, he has provided to these 11 songs a sense of depth and honesty, emphasizing Fergie’s natural high range with a variety of ’80s oriented melodic rock material at the forefront.
Straight off the bat, Fergie attests that his voice is as exquisite as it was back in a day, when he was sometimes called the other Steve Perry. However, Perry’s voice isn’t what it used to be, while Fergie’s has maybe even gotten better, keeping the range and adding volume.
The lineup gravitates to strong players within the scene: guitarists Bruce Gaitsch (Richard Marx), Swedes Robert Sall (Work Of Art, W.E.T.), Peter Friestedt and Sven Larsson, background vocals from Labyrinth’s Roberto Tiranti, and a guest duet with Issa Oversveen on the midtempo AOR “Not Alone” (very Chicago oriented during their “19” days).

Most vocalists would mail in their higher register days and seek out material in lower keys – but not so with Fergie. “Last Battle Of My War” opens with some killer fretless bass lines from Nik Mazzucconi and a high energy drum groove from Herman Furin, setting up the verses with a dramatic up and down choral element as if taking in the best of Pride Of Lions, Meatloaf and Toto.
The follow up “Let Go” opens with a swinging keyboard riff before giving way once again to a fine Frederiksen upper range melody, Alessandro exploring old school organ antics to add another flavor to this classic-oriented arrangement.

The songwriting is at its best when the guitar leads are crisp and emotive and there is a perfect balance between a solid rhythmic groove and splashes of keyboard / guitar riff spotlights going hand in hand with addictive vocal melodies – and for that reason the melodic rock gold of “Times Will Change”, “Price For Loving You”, the driving “When the Battle Is Over” and the awesome AOR of title track “Any Given Moment” are immediate winners to my ears.
There’s also elegant, smooth yet strong ballads in “How Many Roads” and the great midtempo “I’ll Be The One”, plenty of lovable atmospheres and emotive sentiment.
Fergie even gives us a brand new version of the Toto classic “Angel Don’t Cry” from the Isolation album. It fits perfectly with the style of the rest of the songs, with Del Vecchio flexing his keyboard chops and Fergie giving the song a little bit more of a bluesy melodic rock feel while still hitting those fine high parts in the chorus.

I was astonished with Fergie Frederiksen’s previous album quality, and let me tell you that “Any Given Moment” is even better.
For classy, true Melodic Rock / AOR fans, this is a mandatory purchase.

01. Last Battle of My War
02. Let Go
03. Price for Loving You
04. I’ll Be the One
05. Time Will Change
06. How Many Roads
07. Candles in the Dark
08. Any Given Moment
09. Not Alone (feat. Issa)
10. When the Battle Is Over
11. Angel Don’t Cry

Fergie Frederiksen – lead vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio – keyboards, background vocals
Nik Mazzucconi – bass, fretless bass
Herman Furin – drums
Roberto Tiranti – background vocals
Issa Oversveen – duet vocals on ‘Not Alone’
Lead and rhythm guitars:
Bruce Gaitsch (Richard Marx)
Robert Sall (W.E.T. , Work Of Art)
Walter Caliaro
Peter Friestedt
Alessio Berlaffa
Sven Larsson
David Coyle

Pre-Order:
www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8972955
.