FM Atomic Generation cd review
The mighty FM return with the follow up to 2015's Heroes and Villains with Atomic Generation being released on the 30th of March via Frontiers Records Srl.
32 years after the release of their debut album and now unbelievably more than a decade since the one off reunion at Firefest 2007 FM go from strength to strength with this album their 5th studio album plus a rerecorded Indiscreet since the reunion.
Thank god for the Firefest organisers persuasive talents.
How do you describe one of your favourite band's new albums when you have been so fortunate to listen to it for a month already without going overboard?
Well for me it's like a greatest hits album with all the best bits from the last 32 year's on to one cd with a nod to the past but sounding fresh and modern.The album sounds huge with a heavy bottom end sound with Merv Goldsworthy on bass never sounding better.
11 tracks with all of FM's trademark melody and class stamped all over it with the band producing,this is one fantastic sounding album with Jeff Knowler's mixing talent's evident throughout.Everyone is loud and clear with Jem Davis's keys adding a real depth to the proceedings and Pete Jupp's snare sound a real delight and as stated Merv underpins it all with a bass sound to die for.
Jim Kirkpatrick's on guitar has been such an integral part of the band since he joined and he is quite simply fantastic here whether it's his riffing from the heavy blues of In It For The Money to his short sharp soloing which is always melodic and fit's the track just so every time.The funky Playing Tricks On Me has plenty of Santana like solo ad libbing which is superb.
I have everything Steve Overland has ever done and the man shows again that he deserves to be seen in the top echelon of any British or world class vocalist list with at times a truly staggering vocal display with his range and tone breathtaking.One listen to the closing ballad Love Is The Law or mid pace rocker Too Much Of A Good Thing and you tell me who is better?
Black Magic is a great opener starting on Pete's drum track and Jim's voice box guitar before the band who's backing vocals are superb throughout start with a whoa whoa chant before Jim's big bluesy guitar riff and Merv's thumping bass kick in.The stop start guitar and vocal line sees Steve holding notes for fun and I love the way the chorus sees Pete inject a little more pace driving the song with the chorus being a Steve and backing vocal infused melody part.Jim's first guitar solo is a true case of it's now how many notes you play but how you play it before the outro with whoa whoa's a plenty.Going to be a live favourite for sure.
Too Much Of A Good Thing sees a slowing in pace for a Steve tour de force on an AOR number that could have fitted into the band's earlier career.Jem's keyboards dip in and out with textures everywhere with a few part's making me think of original keyboard player Didge Digital.The chorus is to die for with Steve trading lines with the backing vocals and he hold's notes for fun.Steve always says how hard it is to sing Tough It Out live well if he pulls this one off well stand by St Johns Ambulance.He is known as The Voice well listen and learn.I just want to press play again every time.
Killed By Love is a bright and breezy rocker with a yeah yeah vocal refrain at the beginning with a stop start heavy guitar riff with Steve's melodic guitar picking over the top and Merv's bass a master class.Another superb chorus as the pace increases and another live favourite for sure.
In It For The Money sees Pete's drum track start before probably one of the heaviest guitar riffs FM have put on an album kicks in again.Underpinned by Merv's thumping bass line and a chorus that takes it another level with Steve again holding notes for added effect.
Mid song heavy riffing with Jim's solo spot on.
Golden Days is a summery feel AOR song with the band harking back to those Golden Days that were the best they ever had with a song that would have been all over radio back in the day.Steve again impresses and Jem's keys do take you back to those days!!
Playing Tricks On Me is the previously mentioned Santana vibe full of funk and sass and horns thrown into the mix too.A wonderful Steve led verse and chorus and Jim's soloing stunning and love the add libbing as the guitar dips in and out too that moulds into the horn section too.The picked mid song solo is melodic bliss.
Make The Best Of What You Got is a mid tempo rocker with more Jim add lib guitar soloing and a stop start guitar part with Pete driving the song alongside Merv's bass.Superb chorus and a perfect song to get the blood pumping and make you drive a little faster.
Follow Your Heart increases in pace into the chorus after a slower start and Steve's note control is again stunning and Jim's lengthier guitar solo has wonderful tone and pacing.
Do You Love Me Enough is finally an FM version of the song that first appeared after the band split on The Ladder Future Miracles cd and the band do a great job on the ballad with Steve's vocal mesmerising and lots of backing vocal's and Jem's keys flourish superb.
Brilliant doesn't do it justice.
Stronger has Jem's Hammond sound straight from Bon Jovi's New Jersey with a muscular Jim guitar riff that stop starts and moulds so well with Jem's swathes of keys.Big chorus with Jim adding guitar add libs too.This song shows off the production so well with everything including the kitchen sink being in there.
Love Is The Law finishes the cd like the last album with a simply incredible acoustic led ballad with Steve truly at his best.If your skin isn't full of goose bumps please check your pulse.His voice has emotion at it's core with every word pronounced with meaning and you are listening to every nuance.The man is a true vocal legend
We are so lucky to have the band producing music of this quality time and again and Atomic Generation fits perfectly into a stellar career that sees no sign of slowing down.
Album Of The Year.
