ALBUM REVIEW: FM – Synchronized

Synchronize is a verb meaning to make two or more objects or actions happen in the same moment. Outside the United States it is spelled properly – synchronise. I wonder then why a UK band would spell the name of their latest release with a ‘Zee’…  There you go – see how much time on your hands isolation gives you! (FM radio itself of course was very much a US invention). Shall we press on?

Here we go then – as it is title track ‘Synchronized’ which opens has that warm sense of familiarity about it – coming across like the sort of song that Robert Palmer and Foreigner might have combined to create in those early days of the 80’s. It’s funky and it’s AOR. It’s OK.

‘Superstar’ that follows though is an unexpectedly interesting song with a smooth melody and soulful backing vocal with a lead vocal that almost has a country twang at times, but the composition is far more interesting with two breakdowns and some inspirational keys before a wonderful guitar solo – it’s a veritable retro rocking smorgasbord that despite having no huge hook has plenty in the refrain to have you humming away in your sleep!

‘Best of Times’ by contrast has a real 70’s feel, with swelling organ and soulful vocal at the fore and comes replete with a nice bluesy solo.

After that solid  opening salvo it’s then that things start to go a bit ‘south’…

Ballad ‘Ghosts of You and I’ for example sounds like AOR-lite and has what sounds like a modern RnB drum pattern and prominent piano. It honestly sounds like latter-day Richard Marx without the bite. At this point I have no idea where we are going next…

‘Broken’ has a similar swing to it, a dab of AOR, and some fine Soul in the vocal, but its so slick it screams early 80’s Pop Rock –  and it’s at this point I’m not entirely sure we’d call this a Rock album?

‘Change for the Better’ starts off with a bit of life but it’s more Marx-lite – disparagingly clean early 80’s rock with no discernible balls but plenty of slick product, and groomed to within an inch of it’s life. You could get away with this treatment with a better song but to be honest it’s only vaguely memorable.

‘End of Days’ starts with a shot of Purple Rain-era organ before a spot of U2 guitar and then a scream that is probably the most energizing (notice the ‘z’) moment on the album.  It’s by far the best thing here even if by FM standards it’s a fairly rote number -it does sport a rather lush chorus and it’s one of those songs that you think could have been so much more, it just needs ‘something’.

Just to rub it in and prove you wrong ‘Pray’  is sublime – a wonderfully soulful Bluesy rocker with some wonderful stabs of organ and a huge swing. It’s to me, the song of the album by a country mile. 

‘Walk Through The Fire’ is pure Mr. Mister (well the good bits are) with some bloody horrible programmed drums – take out the Thomas Dolby element and you have a great song.

Similarly we hit gold when they play it straight like on ‘Hell Or High Water’ where they get it just right. Here we have a nice little rocker with bags of melody, a nice shot of attitude and a great groove.

The second half of this record I reckon is it’s savior and the ballad ‘Angels Cried’ is wonderful – music that can move you will never ever lose its power and this really hits the spot.

Closer ‘Ready For Me’ is all I love about FM,  soulful bluesy rock that has a bit of Thunder about it – it’s up there with my favourite songs by the band full stop and that’s a huge call. After losing it mid-album FM have pulled off another great record. I’d even go as far as to say ditch that mid-section and you’d have a classic on your hands.

To be honest if they’d played this as a straight Soul album it could have been wonderful, if they’d played it as a smoky Blues Rocker then I’d be singing it’s praises from the rooftops. The musicianship is wonderful and the vocals are at times glorious. As it is I think it’s a case of ‘falling between two stools… there are some wonderful moments and some woeful.

7/10