The FMs are truly a dynamic one of a kind band. A group of gender bending goth-synth superhumans with a passion to save the world by melodically giving it a long look in the mirror. With a strong kink undertone (or overtone, really), smokey eyeliner and barely-there outfits worn by their frontthem, Matte Namer, they seductively demand man/womankind gets it’s shit together. The FMs unapologetically writhe, jump, head bang, climb, tangle themselves in microphone wire, and create sounds so catchy, so hypnotic and so full of contagiously appealing attitude that you can’t help but bite your lip and move your body; a dark, loud, electronic movement full of charm that can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone with taste.
Their latest release off ADIM Records is a bookend double-feature called “Organic Hate” and “Synthetic Love”. Both sides of this project are remixes of their most well received tracks, reinvented by several artists and producers such as Ghost Stories, Ophelia, Facexhugger, Illexxandra, ADMRL and Patrick Seymour of The Eurythmics. Frankie Dead Rx and Matte Namer have been blending their powerful voices together since their high school years, and the Organic Hate/Synthetic love shows off the importance of how their are meant to be joined as one unstoppable force not to be trifled with.
The group of special remixes featured in Organic Hate are a journey into musical purgatory. This collection takes The FMs sound and brings it to an even darker, sexier, grittier and more menacing level. In this violently electronic journey, Namer and Rx’s voices often sound like a demon and an angel communicating through a dirty radio that suddenly came to life in an abandoned night club. Two of the most hyper and exciting remixes are by Ghost Stories, for “Change Your Men Up” and “In/Out”, including a remix he appropriately named “Aftercare”. With a melodic echo from almost an underwater grotto, it brings you back up into the light for air. ?After catching your breath, Ophelia takes the vignette of “Extender” and elongates it into a sexy growling beat, allowing the whispers, haunting wails, and confrontational voices of Rx and Namer to entice you back down into the rabbit hole.
Matte Namer’s remix of “Domino” takes the ebb and flow of their haunting voices darting closer and farther from your ears in unpredictable patterns that can keep you wondering where you’re gladly being lead into the shadows. The remix oscillates between moments of airy, fluid yet melancholic celestial soundscapes, to concrete hard driving beats ramming the listener into the earth, truly capturing a wide breadth of emotional dynamism.
Ghost Stories concludes the chapter with a dramatic remix of one of their most well received songs, “Implosion Model”, painting a very cinematic audible landscape from it’s parts in shades of grey and sparking electric wires.
Synthetic Love takes us into a juxtaposing twist to contrast Organic Hate, with a more optimistic, upbeat, and dancey outlook on the classic FMs releases. The vocals of Rx and Namer are cleaner, yet hypnotic in this EP, and emphasize their powerful combination, beginning with a trance/pop remix by ADMRL. This take on “Change Your Men Up” once again gives the listener the opportunity to hear the message of their song, challenging the patriarchy and encouraging it’s demolition from the toxic hold it has had on our society.
Perhaps my favorite remix on this entire double feature is the dramatic remix by Patrick Seymour of The Eurythmics. His take on “Implosion Model” grabs you instantly with a commanding and robust orchestral arrangement within it’s electric beat, resulting in an entrancing flow peppered with hymnal vocals and cryptic spoken samples. Seymour’s reshaping of this song shows a new side of it that is absolutely breathtaking. Easily, it’s one of my favorite collaborations they have made so far.
The original “Eyes Are Suffering” is without a doubt, my most favorite FMs song of all time. Legendary Brooklyn based breakbeat DJ and Producer lllexandra’s remix takes a minimal approach, allowing you the opportunity to focus in and appreciate how dynamic the voices of Rx and Namer can be within its steady upbeat tempo, as they effortlessly propel and build their vocals beyond the realm they radiate. This song breaks that barrier by highlighting their impressive belting and gritty volume. “Eyes Are Suffering” always shows off the range of The FMs on a level the other songs haven’t quite yet attained yet.
“Kill The Code” is turned into a creepy synth nightmarish suspenseful type of sound by Facexhugger, which surprised and delighted me. There is a lot of drama and depth brought to this track that can make you appreciate it more that the original version.
Closing Synthetic Love is a very thoroughly mixed “Change Your Men Up” by Patrick Seymour, giving a more vocal focused look at the song, creating a clean beat, leaving you with Namer’s commanding voice alone with their message regarding the patriarchy to “stop the their toxic plot”, as a strong finale.
Organic Hate/Synthetic love for me gets a 9 out of 10 for the unique approach to marketing and branding a remix release for this special band. It’s catchy, unpredictable, and takes you on a wild ride within both sides of the mirror gifted to us by several artists who took the time to reimagine The FMs songs with their own interpretations. I strongly recommend it if you are searching for something new to spice up your playlist whether you are working out, running, to play in the background while you mingle and entertain guests, but especially to get up and dance to. For any of these options, this collection of songs will serve you very well. It gives hope for a future of thinkers, doers, and unique young non-binary/trans/queer/lgbtq people who will challenge the old unhealthy traits in our traditional society values and replace it with helpful changes to the world for the better. All while serving fishnets, eyeliner, and seductive attitude galore.
For more information on The FMs, you can check out:
https://www.https://www.thefmsmusic.com
Instagram @thefms
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/thefmsmusic
Listen to their full. Discography on Spotify. Download Organic Hate & Synthetic Love on Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon Music, and more!
