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Frontiers Records
by Craig Hartranft, 08.14.2013
Dennis 'Fergie' Frederiksen has had a long and distinguished musical career, perhaps best known for his brief stint with Toto, performing on vocals on 1984's Isolation. His greatest accomplishment, however, may be persevering and creating his first solo album for Frontiers, Happiness Is The Road, while surviving a diagnosis of inoperable liver cancer. Fergie returns with his second solo effort, Any Given Moment, with renewed passion for his career.
This time Frederiksen teams up with musician and ubiquitous producer Alessandro Del Vecchio to create another fine platter of AOR melodic, much of which could fit into the West Coast tradition as well. Like Jeff Cannata's latest Arc Angel project, the duo is backed up by a generous cadre of talented musicians including Bruce Gaitsch (Richard Marx) and Robert Sall (Work of Art, W.E.T.) on guitars, to name only two.
Of course, the signature feature of Any Given Moment is Frederiksen's voice. His delivery is clean and strong, melodic and often quite passionate as on When the Battle Is Over or Any Given Moment. The music is merely the platform for him, the vehicle that carries him. Yet, considering the strength of Del Vecchio's talent, the music is quite good, easily on par with Frederiksen's talent and complimenting it. Where this works the song is simply strong and uncompromising AOR melodic rock with Let Go, I'll Be the One, Not Alone (a duet with Issa), the new version of Toto's Angel Don't Cry (from Isolation), and the rocking Last Battle of My War (see below). Bottom line: Any Given Moment is another solid Fergie Frederiksen album, and quite entertaining West Coast AOR melodic rock. Recommended.
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Any Given Moment is another solid Fergie Frederiksen album, and quite entertaining West Coast AOR melodic rock. Recommended.
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