FM // BROTHERHOOD // ALBUM REVIEW

Forever the Masters of Melodic Rock FM return with their 15^th studio album, and like everything else they have released, it oozes class. The songs are full of great hooks and choruses which have an immediate impact. The Blues-tinged melodies grab the attention, as they are infectious, punchy and anthemic. The first single, “Living On The Run’’ is a Bonnie and Clyde-type story, featuring a great guitar solo from Jim Kirkpatrick. You might not expect FM to take you to new frontiers, but on Brotherhood, that is exactly what they do. Having Sonia Jones and Jade Morgan on ‘Do You Mean It’ and ‘Just Walk Away’ adds a freshness and new dimension.

All the members are on top of their game, Jupp provides perfect precision, Goldsworthy’s bass bounces, Davis’s keys capture a kaleidoscope of colour, Kirpatrick’s plectrum paints patterns of pure class, what can I say about the voice of Overland? It’s vivid and vibrant with a versatility that creates the sheen and polish of an exotic veneer.

You will know all there is to know about FM, if you don’t, where have you been for the last nearly 40 years? On the opening number, which has a Blues, Soul feel, Steve sings like he means it, which is just as well, as it is called ‘Do You Mean It’! ‘Coming For You’ makes me feel hot-blooded! ‘Love Comes To All’  recalls Bon Jovi; it has a neat groove. Mr Overland adopts his best crooning voice for ‘Just Walk Away’, a stunning ballad, which is embellished with some great keyboards and a way too short acoustic solo from Kirkpatrick; it should have been twice the length at least.

Moving on, ‘Don’t Call It Love’ is a Bryan Adams-style song. Next up is the Funk synth rhythm of ‘Time Waits For No One’, which features some neat guitar work. ‘Chasing Freedom’ explodes from the of, then falls into mid-tempo territory. Closing song ‘The Enemy Within’ has a buzzing guitar solo and some on-point lyrics; “This life has more than you can see, put down that screen and set yourself free”.

Heading backwards in the album and ‘Love Comes To All’, I think hello! Am I back in the New York Groove? All I can add is FM continue a golden run, their influences are there for all to see. The tribal image that adorns the album cover is almost as colourful as the music, nice one.

Review: Paul Mace

 “FM” are set to release their new studio album “Brotherhood” released by Frontiers Music SRL on Friday September 5^th.

The album is available to pre-save and pre-order on vinyl, CD and digital  – https://ffm.to/fmbrotherhood

Tickets for FM’s “Brotherhood” UK tour are available from The Gig Cartel via – https://www.thegigcartel.com/Artists-profiles/FM.htm. Special guests are Brave Rival, Jack J Hutchinson, and Rosalie Cunningham.

PRE-SAVE ALBUM

Album Track Listing
Do You Mean It (3.54)
Living On The Run (4.19)
Coming For You (4.11)
Raised On The Wrong Side (4.50)
Love Comes To All (3.51)
Just Walk Away (6.08)
Don’t Call It Love (5.00)
Time Waits For No One (4.59)
Because Of You (4.47)
Chasing Freedom (4.47)
The Enemy Within (5.48)

Band Line-up
Steve Overland – Vocals, guitar
Merv Goldsworthy – Bass
Pete Jupp – Drums
Jem Davis – Keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick – Guitars

Production Credits
Produced by FM
Studios: Tremelo Studios, West3 Productions, The Seldom inn, JK Studios, Electric Pepperland
Recorded by Pete Jupp
Mixed by Jeff Knowler
Mastered by Jim Griffiths at Principal Audio
Backing vocals on “Do You Mean It” and “Just Walk Away by Sonia Jones and Jade Morgan