Frontiers/BAM
Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen rose to fame as vocalist of TOTO, and has cemented his position with bands and projects like TRILLION, LEROUX, FREDERIKSEN/PHILIPS, MECCA, FREDERIKSEN/DENANDER etc. This is a special album, being made during a period when Fergie was diagnosed and in therapy for cancer. In 2011 he was cured, and had a new record to display. Written from a perspective of how much you have to lose and the joy of being alive this is bound for glory…or?
Apart from being written in companionship with Jim Peterik (ex. SURVIVOR, PRIDE OF LIONS), the albuim also boosts the talents of Dennis Ward, bass and production, Dirk Bruinenberg, drums, Eric Ragno, keyboards, and Nathan Eshman, guitars. The general feeling of joy and happiness is contagious. The echoes of TOTO and SURVIVOR are there too of cause, with the polished brand of catchy AOR that Fergie used to flagship. I have a hard time with “Love Waits for No One”. Not that it is downright bad but it is somewhat below the high average on offer here. At the same time it will not be an instant classic. “Elaine” and “The Future Ain´t What It Used to Be” may well be instant clöasics, but two out of 12 is not enough in 2011. The majority of tracks are above average, choruses, keyboards, catchiness and all doesn´t add up to more than slightly or above average in most cases. The routine is almost tangible, the flow sometimes admirable but the hard to define “it” that causes mass hysteria may have left the business a good whiole ago. A worthy purchase though, if not for anything else to celebrate that Fergie survived to tell his story.
Track List
Angel (Mirror to Your Soul)
Elaine
First to Cry
Follow Your Heart
Happiness Is the Road
I Still Believe in Love
Lyin´ Eyes
Love Waits for No One
Writing on the Wall
The Future Ain´t What It Used to Be
The One
The Savior
www.frontiers.it www.myspace.com/fergiefrederiksen
