FM – Black Noise(1978 Crossover Prog • Canada)Full Album

FM biography Founded in Toronto, Canada in 1976 - Disbanded in 1989 - Reformed in 1994-1996, 2006 and again since 2011 This trio came from Toronto around the end of the 70's but got slightly over-shadowed by the profusion of bands exploding all over the local scene and album charts. I mean with RUSH, TRIUMPH, SAGA, MAX WEBSTER etc. It is no wonder some could not get their share of sunlight, along with GODDO, MOXY, ZON, SANTERS and most certainly FM. Their first Lp full of a weird sort of hard rock with strange studio tampering and Sci-Fi preoccupations in their lyrics, and it alerted most potential fans that this was a very particular band with their lead violinist Nash The Slash and Martin Deller at the drum seat as well as Cameron Hawkins on bass and keyboards. Unfortunately, their crazy frontman opted for a fairly successful solo career prtraying himself as a mummy or invisible man (crazy videos on MuchMusic - the equivalent of MTV in the early 80's). The remaining duo had to find Ben Mink as a replacement but they never managed to regain the magic of their first album, though the new line)up recorded a Direct To Disc (engraved to the matrix drectly in the studio) album with two lengthy track. this release became quite rare and soughth after, until Esteric reissued it in the mid-10's. They will still manage another classic two albums under the new line-up, which are much appreciated by fans. The band's career becomes a bit blurry with Nash partially returning for one-offs over the next two decades, including a NearFest appearance. A decade later, they released a new album with only Hawkins remaining from the classic bnd line-ups. : ::: Hugues Chantraine, Belgium ::: : Black Noise is the debut studio album by Canadian progressive rock group FM. Released in a limited edition by CBC in early 1978, it didn't receive widespread release until later that year when GRT/Passport Records did a full release of the album that shot up the Canadian record charts fueled by the hit single "Phasors on Stun". The B-side was the instrumental song "Slaughter in Robot Village". A second single was released, "Journey", with the B-side, "Hours". It didn't sell as well, and barely charted. In 2015, Rolling Stone released its list of 50 of the Greatest Progressive Rock Albums of All Time, and Black Noise made the list at number forty eight (#48). Tracks: 01. Phasors On Stun (Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins) –00:00 02. One O'Clock Tomorrow (Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins) – 03:55 03. Hours (Martin Deller) – 09:57 04. Journey (Cameron Hawkins) – 12:29 05. Dialing For Dharma (Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins) – 17:07 06. Slaughter In Robot Village (Martin Deller) – 20:18 07. Aldebaran (Nash the Slash, Martin Deller, Cameron Hawkins) – 25:17 08. Black Noise (Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins) – 30:16 Personnel: - Cameron Hawkins - synthesizer, bass guitar, piano, lead vocals - Nash the Slash (Jeff Plewman) - electric violins and mandolin, glockenspiel, vocals, effects - Martin Deller - drums, percussion, synthesizer + - Keith Whiting, FM - producers