FM

Time Life collections are usually rock-solid groupings of classic songs presented carefully and lovingly, and the FM Rock series is no exception. The theme seems to be songs you might find on a free-form FM station, because each volume contains songs that no commercial program director would come close to allowing on the air. Mixed in with these selections are some classic FM tunes as well, making for a wild and unpredictable listen. For example, Vol. 2 has hit tracks by the Doobie Brothers ("Rockin' Down the Highway"), Rod Stewart ("Every Picture Tells a Story"), and Little Feat ("Willin'"), but also obscurities like Crazy Horse's "Gone Dead Train" and Fleetwood Mac's "Jewel Eyed Judy," as well as oddball choices like Moby Grape's "Gypsy Wedding" and Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come." Beyond being entertaining listening, all the entries in the series could turn listeners on to bands they missed the first time around, and are fine additions to the collection of someone who wants to delve deeper into the music of the '70s.

Three CD set packaged in a multi-folding digipak from legendary British melodic rockers, featuring the 14 track Paraphernalia which includes 3 bonus tracks (all 1998 versions) 'Burning My Heart Down', 'Don't Stop' & 'Frozen Heart' and the 14 track Aphrodisiac which includes 2 bonus tracks 'Chinese Whispers' & 'Closer To Heaven' (acoustic version) plus the 12 track Live At The Astoria.

FM hold a very special place in the hearts of UK AOR fans. The band ably showed that Brits could turn their hand to a nimble tune every bit as well as their American counterparts and, in Steve Overland, the band had - and still have - one of the truly great voices in Rock music. Released in 1992, Aphrodisiac was a fine album that continued in the style of their two previous Portrait records releases. Along with Strangeways, Shy and the like, FM were the very best British AOR had to offer.

The Esoteric Antenna label is pleased to announce the release of "Transformation”, the excellent bold new album by the legendary Canadian Progressive Rock band FM. With its roots firmly planted in late Seventies progressive rock - complex rhythms, driving bass lines, soaring melodies - the music on Transformation is symphonic in scope with not one, but two violinists on board. Co-founder and bass player/keyboardist Cameron Hawkins is joined by drumming legend Paul DeLong (Kim Mitchell, Roger Hodgson), viola/mandolinist Edward Bernard (Druckfarben) and violin virtuoso Aaron Solomon on nine, brand new compositions mixed by world-renowned producer/engineer Terry Brown (Rush, Tony Levin Band, Fates Warning, Dream Theater)…