FM - Indiscreet
Tracks :-
That Girl
Other Side Of Midnight
Love Lies Dying
I Belong To The Night
American Girls
Hot Wired
Face To Face
Frozen Heart
Heart Of The Matter
Love Lasts Forever
[American Girls (Live)]
{Say It Like It Is (Live)]
[American Girls (International)]
Playing Time : 57:01 m:s
Producer : FM & Dave King
Label : original release : Sony UK, re-release : BGO Records
Year : original : 1986, re-release : 1993
Given what happened last year (they split up) this feels more like a post mortem, rather than a review. It's been a long time since I listened to any FM. FM seamed to be the perennial 'UK hopefuls'. Going back to the start of their career, it's interesting to see what promise they showed on this debut. Prior to being FM, some of the guys were in a band called Wildlife who put out an album with the help of a couple the musicians from Bad Company. I remember it being a promising album. The formation of FM showed them abandoning the blues rock of Wildlife for a more AOR formula.
This is actually the 3rd FM album that I've owned. Prior to the great HiFi and album theft of 1990, which virtually wiped out my record collection, I owned the 'Tough It Out' album. I quite liked TIO, so I must get round to replacing it someday. The other FM album I own is the more recent and disappointing 'Takin' It To The Streets'. From what I've read, the critics reckon it's a toss up between TIO and Indiscreet as to which is their best album.
On first hearing this I was both impressed and confused. This is really an excellent album. So what happened ? I'm afraid history never was my strong point. Based upon this performance FM should have had a bright future ahead of them. This was released in 1986. I guess the guys missed the boat as far as the golden age of AOR is concerned in the early to mid eighties. Of course, AOR was always seen as an American artform. The fact that these guys were from the other side of the Atlantic must have gone against them.
Listening to this I can't help thinking about bands like Survivor and Foreigner. This is from the days when Didge Digital was still in the band and in command of the keyboards. In fact', that's one of the things I like about the album - the keyboards. This is music to listen to whilst cruising down the highway. Perhaps this was the problem. Such an overtly American sound probably didn't win them many fans at home. For example, the song 'American Girls' was obviously meant to break them in the American market. Maybe it was too obvious a tactic.
One criticism that could be levelled at this album is that much of it is a feels one paced, despite the fact there is actually a mixture of mid-tempo numbers and ballads. Most of the material does bop along at a steady pace, but when it's as good as this I won't complain. 'Player of the match' award must go the Steve Overland who's vocals are the undoubted winner here.
Highlights include the opener That Girl, the heart melting Frozen Heart, I Belong To The Night and American Girls.
Rating : 8
