UFO
Lights Out

I discovered seventies rock quite early. Simply because I enjoyed rummaging through my aunt's cassette collection, a peculiar and slightly hippie character who, despite her oddities, also listened to good music. That's how, after imprudently destroying or demagnetizing some tapes, I discovered legendary bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. But also other less known ones like UFO, for example. After all, a name like that can't fail to spark a child's imagination.

A little for fun and a little out of curiosity, this cheerful child was enchanted by the melodies of a song found in a compilation of tear-jerking ballads. The song in question is the splendid "Try Me". More than twenty years later, the emotions are still the same. A ballad like only rock bands can do. A melancholic piano, majestic orchestral touches, and the hoarse, suffering voice of Phil Mogg. But above all, the solo by that alien of Schenker, inspired like never before, digging out deep emotions. But as often happens, this song remained locked in the chest of my memories for years. Until the slightly more mature boy decided to delve into the history of this group.

And where could I start if not with "Lights Out"? The creative pinnacle of the band, undeservedly underestimated, a record that fulfills the excellent intuitions of the previous "No Heavy Petting".
The moment is particular: the talented but undisciplined Schenker is dealing with alcohol addiction, and the conflicts with the authoritarian leader Phil Mogg intensify. But tensions turn into energy and lead to the creation of the band's most balanced and complete album. The credit also goes to the newcomer Paul Raymond, a decent rhythm guitarist and skilled keyboardist. And it is probably the greater presence of keyboards that gives that extra something to the work. Even the Teutonic guitar hero manages to contain his often invasive creativity and focuses more on melodic harmonizations. The album begins with two pieces of direct hard rock that seem to be drawn from the Bad Company's repertoire. The chromed riffs of the opener "Too Hot to Handle", still a classic of the band today, and the faster "Just Another Suicide", with the piano marking the rhythm. And after the splendid "Try Me", which I have already mentioned, it is the turn of the title track. "Lights Out" is a thrilling ride, whose riff owes much to Zeppelin and the splendid "Achilles Last Stand." 

The version of "Alone Again Or" by Love is beautiful, with a masterful solo of the Gibson Flying V, whereas in the original there was a trumpet. In between, there's also the more classic rock of "Gettin' Ready" and another hard and aggressive track, "Electric Phase".
Finally closing the album is the evocative "Love to Love". A mid-tempo with an epic stride, divided between acoustic moments and electric surges, with the warm, magnetic voice of Mogg in the forefront and another marvelous Schenker solo.  

It's 1977 and UFO reaches the pinnacle of a prodigious ascent, to be followed by the praiseworthy "Obsession" and the memorable live "Strangers in the Night". Schenker leaves in the aftermath of this fortunate work, and UFO continues through lineup changes and reunions, but without the same acclaim from critics and audiences. Despite not achieving the success of rock giants, the group is mentioned among the major influences by the leading bands of the heavy metal scene of the eighties. 

And that child, now grown up, still believes in UFO.