City Of Fear

I did not know about this band at all until I saw them open up for Rush on the Moving Pictures tour. My friend Will and I both thought it might actually be Rush on the stage when in fact it was this other Canadian trio, FM. They had a lead singer with long dark hair who resembled Geddy Lee and also played keyboards and bass, a guitarist who looked a lot like Alex Lifeson (but then stunned us when he came out with an electric violin!), and an incredible drummer who played as meticulously as Neil Peart, yet had his own style, too!

I definitely remember a few of the songs they played that night- the very catchy original "Up To You" and the cover of the Yardbirds song, "Shapes of Things." They also might've played "Surface To Air," "Rocket Roll," and "Phasor's On Stun," but I couldn't bet money on it. Man, what I would give for a bootleg recording of that concert or any other where they opened for Rush on that tour! For now, though, I'll just have to rely on my memories. I know that for many days after I went on a hunt to every store that sold music (albums, of course, as this was 1980) and FINALLY found an FM album (in the CUT-OUT bin, too!!!) at, of all places, Woolworth's in Groton, CT! It was the album "City Of Fear" and I remember staring at at like I'd just found a buried treasure! And I had! 

I couldn't wait to get the album home and start listening to it! It was a gatefold cover and I remember just trying to absorb it all as I listened to all of the music. I remember my first reaction to the album was that it was very cold sounding and almost robotic, but... so incredibly interesting. I loved how inside the gatefold the lyrics were all there (not always my favorite part of FM; Cameron Hawkins was not, after all, Neal Peart!) and, more surprisingly, all of the instruments that all three members played! It wasn't your typical- vocals, guitars, bass, drums and keyboards. For each member, we saw not only what instruments they played, but also what makes and models, for the most part! It was so... different! And, to this young teen, so very cool!

But most shocking of all? There was no GUITAR- electric or otherwise! All of the electric guitar 'sounds' were either created by an electric or acoustic mandolin or violin! I was dumbstruck! And doubtful! I thought there must be a mistake because live he had played an electric guitar for most of the set and the electric violin almost seemed like a... neat novelty or something, like a nice break or change, much like when a band in the 90s did an "unplugged" set in there show somewhere. But it was understandable because it DID sound very different from an electric guitar! Seriously, I had musician friends who didn't believe me, even when I showed them how it was written in the album! They thought it HAD to be an electric guitar! I mean, what was it then that came crashing in on the title track at 34 seconds into the song's intro? Hear for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB23ydTn9jQ (City Of Fear - FM)

Yes, Ben Mink played electric and acoustic mandolins and violins or, more specifically, a 5 string "bent" mandolin (electric), 5 string "Violite" (electric violin), 5 string viola (acoustic), and a 1912 "The Gibson" mandolin (acoustic), all through Fender amplification! I believe he sang backups, too! Cameron Hawkins, besides supplying all of the lyrics and lead vocals, played bass and keybaords or, more spcifically, Mutron and Electro-Harmonix FX pedals, 9.95, Prophet 5, Minimoog, Moog Taurus pedals, ELKA (synthesizer), Yamaha grand (piano), Rickenbacker bass, Polyfusion sequencer,Larry's Moog 15 (modular synthesizer), and Mellotron! Martin Deller played drums and percussion or, more specifically, Gretsch drums, Zildian and Paiste cymbals, glockenspiel, Moog percussion controller with Minimoog, PAiA programmable drum synthesizer, and tympani! Like I said, pretty interesting, to say the very least!

The amazing thing for me about this album is that it has grown more beautiful with age and I think it is truly a lost gem. It is an album that could've been (and should've been!) huge for the band. I enjoy listening to all of these songs now more than ever, even my least favorite track, "Riding The Thunder." (It always sounded so cheesy and un-FM-like to me). However, the album as a whole is very enjoyable to listen to, starting with the haunting "Krakow" and ending up with the sorrowful piano ballad, "Nobody At All." My favorite track is still "Up To You," with the title track placing a close second! Previous albums ("Black Noise" with Nash The Slash on violin/mandolin, "Direct To Disc/Head Room," and "Surveillance") were wonderful but this album, the last with Ben Mink (mandolin/violin/guitar), is FM's high point as well as their last great offering. Consider yourself fortunate if you somehow chance to stumble across it. It is a real find.