SURVEILLANCE

This was the first FM album I owned, buying it on a whim at a used record store, not long after it was released. Nash The Slash was replaced on this album by the capable Ben Mink. The album is a little more mainstream than the early ones, but also more cohesive.

Rocket Roll is pure arena pop, an energetic tune with lame sci-fi lyrics. Orion is an electronic fusion song. It would be much better if it was longer. Horizons brings in a more traditional prog sound. While it's not terribly complex, it does have good keyboard sounds and solos. Random Harvest has a Rush-like feel in the bass and drums (without that Geddy Lee flair), and works as a crossover prog piece. Side 1 ends with a synth- pop version of Shapes Of Things.

Usually, FM gets accused of copying Rush, but Seventh Heaven predates Subdivisions by three years. There is a striking similarity between the two songs. Father Time is a fusiony prog piece, with some very good violin work by Ben Mink, that gives the song a Kansas-ish feel. Sofa Back is a tribute to the Three Stooges. This is another fusion song, and the best song on the LP. Destruction finishes the album on a strong note. Melodically and rhythmically, this song compares favorably to classic Kansas.

For crerating such a strong prog album in the time when the industry was trying to kill the genre, I'd have to rate this album four stars.