FM - Black Noise

Year of Release: 1994
Label: Now See Hear
Catalog Number: NSBBD-7007
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

FM was a 70's Canadian trio consisting of keyboards, violins and drums.? With close to 30 years under its belt, FM's debut Black Noise has not aged as gracefully as one would expect for an album often labeled a classic. FM shines brightest on instrumental tracks where violinist Nash the Slash and keyboardist Cameron Hawkins show a knack for melody, and fine musicianship.

Black Noise does have catchy melodies, and after a few listens, it becomes apparent that the band had one foot in the arena rock sector while continuing to inject a melodic symphonic approach at other times. "One O'Clock Tomorrow" sounds like Supertramp mixed with And Then There were Three-era Genesis. The songs are catchy and have Hawkins' keyboard work all over them; "Journey" is a good example. "Dialing For Dharma" has an annoying sequenced keyboard part, but the soloing keeps it interesting. "Slaughter In Robot Village" boosts the bass up with a Yes-like tone, and a darker feel, with Nash's violin leading the way on this instrumental.

Hawkins does not have the strongest vocals, so the instrumental tracks are the most enjoyable. FM comes off as a good band, which wrote some catchy tunes, stretching themselves out to add a progressive element to their music.

Originally released in 1978 by Passport (9167-9831 and VISA 7007), reissued by WEA Records in 1980 (58198)

Tracklisting:
Phasors On Stun (3:49) / One O'Clock Tomorrow (6:05) / Hours (2:36) / Journey (4:41) / Dialing For Dharma (3:15) / Slaughter In Robot Village (5:02) / Aldebaran (5:02) / Black Noise (9:56)

Musicians:
Cameron Hawkins - vocals, synthesizer, bass, piano
Martin Deller - drums, percussion, synthesizer
Nash The Slash - violins, mandolin, glockenspiel, vocals, effects

Discography:
Black Noise (1978/1980/1994)
Headroom (1978)
Surveillance (1979)
City Of Fear (1980)
CON-TEST (1985)
Tonight (1987)
RetroActive (1995) Lost In Space (2001)
NEARfest 2006 (CD/DVD set) (2006)
Transformation (2015)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin CA

Added: February 28th 2006
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Hits: 2570
Language: english