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The Canadian band "FM"
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Steve Wyzard View Drop Down
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    Posted: September 27 2022 at 13:28
I was very surprised to discover that the Canadian band "FM" (led by vocalist/keyboardist/bassist Cameron Hawkins) is listed under Prog Related.

As someone who has been listening to the Black Noise/Surveillance/City of Fear albums for 35+ years, I could understand them being considered Eclectic Prog or even Crossover Prog, but Prog Related seems almost dismissive. I would be interested in knowing the rationale behind this.

Regardless of how they are categorized, I will always be listening to these albums as well as Ben Mink's Foreign Exchange, which is an FM album in all but name. I also enjoyed the 2006 NEARfest reunion, but was somewhat disappointed with the 2015 Transformation album (those lyrics!). I will close by saying that Martin Deller is one of the most underrated drummers of all time!
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20240 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2022 at 14:22
This is a legacy of early days of pA, but I would support the reassessment of the band  into a full-blown prog band.

At the time (2004), the Headroom/Direct To Disc album was litterally forgotten, and yet nowadays (since its reissue on CD), it's probably their proggiest album.

I support the change to either Ecelectic.... or why not cosmic/space.



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Cosmiclawnmower View Drop Down
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Points: 3635 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cosmiclawnmower Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2022 at 15:44
Black Noise and the 'direct to disc' lp are absolute full blown prog classics, hands down. Not just the compositions but the instruments used and the way in which they were used (and they were a trio!) surely classifies them as eclectic prog at least.

It took me a couple of years to get a vinyl copy of the direct to disc lp from Canada (around 2008).. the lp was reasonably priced but the postage was alarming.. a great lp though and well worth the wait.

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Steve Wyzard View Drop Down
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Points: 2579 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve Wyzard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2022 at 16:23
Originally posted by Cosmiclawnmower Cosmiclawnmower wrote:

Black Noise and the 'direct to disc' lp are absolute full blown prog classics, hands down. Not just the compositions but the instruments used and the way in which they were used (and they were a trio!) surely classifies them as eclectic prog at least.

It took me a couple of years to get a vinyl copy of the direct to disc lp from Canada (around 2008).. the lp was reasonably priced but the postage was alarming.. a great lp though and well worth the wait.

I was only able to hear the Direct to Disc album when it was finally released on CD, and yes, it was worth the wait!
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dr wu23 View Drop Down
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Points: 20623 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 30 2022 at 10:05
Not sure where they belong ,but I have 2 copies on old vinyl of Black Noise and I still see it in used b ins here in the US....haven't seen Head Room but I do see the last 2 now and then.
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20240 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2023 at 07:38
Another attempt/bump to reassess the band as a full-blown prog band. Wink
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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siLLy puPPy View Drop Down
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Points: 15243 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote siLLy puPPy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2023 at 09:02
RYM lists all the early albums as both progressive rock and space rock so it seems PSIKE would probably be the best fit. Since i've never listened to a single release i must rectify that and check out the first couple of albums to have a valid opinion. Ironically i just discovered FM was one of those rare prog bands that also went new wave in the 80s with a combo effect album titled City of Fear before going full blown AOR.

https://rateyourmusic.com/~siLLy_puPPy
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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 8951 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2023 at 09:06
I've always puzzled over this prog related snub.  I love Black Noise, which is absolutely full blown prog.  Direct to Disc is as well though I wasn't into it.  And City of Fear is a superb crossover prog album.  Surveillance is mostly prog as well.  So I too agree they should be evaluated as full prog, though I tend to think crossover is the best fit
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Points: 17509 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 01 2023 at 18:42
Hi,

It's so sad to me to find so many of these things "later", and realize that we did not get them, or heard them before, and then find that they were very inventive for their time and place.

And seeing this set of arguments for adding the band or not, is really sad ... since it is now compared to "nothing" as opposed to those days when the first album came out, which was magnificent, and Guy Guden probably blew out several copies on his show in Santa Barbara ...

Just disappointing to see something like this ... Seventh Wave also fits in a funny sort of way, even though it was a bit more on the pop side of things but the monumental keyboard work was very impressive and its use on the first album was outstanding. Stuff, that for some reason, for today's listeners has little, if any effect ... very sad! (... and the list of replies shows it ... hahaha! Tongue)


Edited by moshkito - May 03 2023 at 06:27
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Spacekitchen View Drop Down
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Points: 62 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Spacekitchen Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2023 at 13:04
FM was great! Phasors On Stun is still played on the radio pretty often here in Ontario. I recently saw some great footage of Nash The Slash playing at US Festival in Toronto in the 80's.
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JD View Drop Down
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Points: 18446 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2023 at 13:33
Just spun a newly acquired used LP of Surveillance last night. A nice NM copy I got for $8.
Not sure how strongly I feel about the PROG designation though. More crossover or even just straight rock.
I'd be interested in knowing what elements people find to be 'progressive'.
Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 8951 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 03 2023 at 20:37
Hmm, trhe electric violin and how it's played, the lyrical themes, the attitude. Even Phasors on Stun seems like a prog track to me.  Most of Black Noise is crossover space prog, particular the monster title track.  But, while the next two albums are more straight rock, there is still plenty of adventurousness going on.  "Krakow" might have the same beat pretty much all the way through but it's sa chilling prog rocker, nothing pop about it.  And Direct to Disc is an instrumental prog album.  Another group that appeared around the same time is Saga.  They are also crossover I believe, which is where I think FM belongs, the space rock of the 2 early albums notwithstanding
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Sean Trane View Drop Down
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Points: 20240 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sean Trane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2023 at 02:08
The Admins & Collabs have upgraded FM to Crossover StarClap
let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
rather than un-sheath our sword
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Points: 17509 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2023 at 10:05
Originally posted by Sean Trane Sean Trane wrote:

The Admins & Collabs have upgraded FM to Crossover StarClap

Hi,
NICE and well done!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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kenethlevine View Drop Down
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Points: 8951 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2023 at 10:33
wonderful!
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