fm Actex

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 album charts, with Rush, Triumph, Saga, Max Webster etc.. It is no wonder some could not get their share of sunlight, among which Goddo, Moxy, Zon, Santers and most certainly FM. Their first LP full of a weird sort of hard rock with strange studio tampering alerted most potential fans that this was a very particular band with their lead violinist Nash The Slash playing as a mummy and Martin Deller at the drum seat as well as Cameron Hawkins on bass…

Collectables Records' various-artists compilation The Ultimate Christmas Album has been released both on its own and as a tie-in with a series of radio stations. There are identical editions of the album associated with KLUV, K-Earth 101 FM, and WCBS FM-101.1 in addition to this version, WJMK 104.3 Chicago. The word "ultimate" has been overused and misused in record releases to the point that it doesn't mean very much to see it on the cover of an album. Whether or not one considers this album to justify its title will have a lot to do with individual musical taste. If the potential consumer is a listener to one of the radio stations listed above, which are oldies stations devoted to playing pop/rock music of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, he or she may agree that the album is the ultimate in holiday music of that period.

One of the sad things about the takeover of the old Jazz FM by Blancmange Radio (Guardian Media/Smooth FM to you and me) was the end of all those lovely compilation albums which complemented the station’s output. Jazz FM, of course, is now back (on digital) and lo and behold… so too are the compilations and here’s the first, complete with the old chameleon art work. As of old, this album is stuffed with a cross section from the station’s playlist and, put together by Ralph Tee and Steve Quirke, it’s quality music all the way. There’s lots of soul – old and new – along with a bracing selection of smooth jazz – some of which, like Chris Standing’s ‘Love And Paragraphs’ and the L. A. Chillharmonic’s ‘Gift’ is a touch too smooth.