September will be a busy month for British band FM – It will see them celebrating the release of their 15th studio album, Brotherhood, and touring the length and breadth of the UK once more.
Described as “a compelling and cohesive statement of the band’s enduring class and creativity”, Brotherhood, is actually out on 5th September, via Frontiers Music Srl; while ahead of that and out now is new single ‘Living on the Run’, delivering their signature blend of hook-laden AOR and blues-tinged hard rock.
“First single, ‘Living On The Run’, is a great hard-hitting melodic fast-moving track,” said FM’s lead singer, Steve Overland. “The song is about what the title suggests, a real Bonnie and Clyde storyline. A very instant big chorus, which makes for a good first single choice.”
Bright, vibrant racing harmony guitars give way to an empowered rock pulsebeat as FM come on like elder rock statesmen in new single, ‘Living On The Run’; a song that has as its starting point The Beatles ‘She Is Leaving Home’ drives us towards Steve Miller’s ‘Take The Money And Run’, while implying other more mature lyrical themes but never losing sight of that all important hookline.
Brotherhood features aforementioned infectious anthem ‘Living on the Run’, unforgettable rocker ‘Don’t Call It Love’, the punchy and powerful ‘Coming For You’, and the emotionally charged ‘Time Waits For No One’ – Tracks said to echo the spirit and melodic strength of the band’s early classics while being “fresh and vibrant”.
The opening track, ‘Do You Mean It’, brings a bluesy, soulful vibe that echoes The Doobie Brothers’ classic Takin’ It To The Streets sound, setting the tone for the album. Brotherhoodalso features the ballad ‘Just Walk Away’ and wrapping up the album is ‘The Enemy Within’, a track that introduces exciting new sonic ideas, while supporting vocals from a female guest choir add warmth and dynamic depth to ‘Do You Mean It’ and ‘Just Walk Away’.
“I am proud of the new album,” enthused Overland, “It is one of our strongest song albums to date. It is another milestone, as it’s FM’s 15th album. It’s very well paced and has great variation in song styles throughout. The album’s big ballad, ‘Just Walk Away’, is one of our best. I hope our fans feel the same way as we do about Brotherhood.”
Formed in the 80s by the Overland brothers, FM is one of the UK’s seminal and respected rock bands. The new album was recorded by their long-standing line-up of founding members Steve Overland, Merv Goldsworthy, and Pete Jupp, alongside keyboard player Jem Davis and guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick.
Brotherhood’s full track listing is ‘Do You Mean It’, ‘Living On The Run’, ‘Coming For You’, ‘Raised On The Wrong Side’, ‘Love Comes To All’, ‘Just Walk Away’, ‘Don’t Call It Love’, ‘Time Waits For No One’, ‘Because Of You’, ‘Chasing Freedom’ and ‘The Enemy Within’ – It is available digitally, on CD and vinyl from here.
For more about FM’s Brotherhood UK tour check out RAMzine here.
