After the triumph of their reunion at the 2007 Firefest, and the equally well-received return in 2009, FM finally released their reunion album, ‘Metropolis’, in early 2010, to near universal praise. It really was a fine piece of work, even more so considering it was the band’s first album in around 15 years. Now with a short series of gigs around the UK, including some supporting Thin Lizzy and an appearance at Hard Rock Hell, the band have released this ‘E.P.’ to coincide.

Firstly, it should be stressed that it’s almost under-selling it to call it an E.P. There are no less than 9 tracks on here, and the whole package is over 44 minutes in length. It’s also worth stating that, with one exception, they’re all different tracks too, there’s almost no repeating of the same song in the guise of different edits or remixes. While there’s only one track the average FM fan won’t have heard before in one form or another, it has to be said the band have done a lot of work in making it a worthwhile package; despite its EP status, the CD has an 8-page booklet with plenty of photographs along with details of where each track was recorded. All too often you don’t get that kind of detail for full price albums.

As for the music itself, it’s simply the top quality UK AOR that this band have made their trademark. Opening track ‘Bring Back Yesterday’, included here in both ‘radio edit’ and ‘extended version’ forms was arguably the best track on ‘Metropolis’ and still surprises me that the band could reconvene after a 12-year absence and produce material of this standard. There are also live versions of other ‘Metropolis’ tracks including an atmospheric ‘Wildside’, and the awesome, Radio 2 playlisted ‘Hollow’,  a song which, in the hands of a band like Daughtry, could have taken the US charts by storm. Then there’s ‘Over You’ a song which is basically one long hook and the Bad Company like ‘Flamingo Road’, which is already a live favourite.

Away from the ‘Metropolis’ material, there’s a studio recorded acoustic version of ‘That Girl’ from their debut album. Still a staple of the live set, this stripped back version is almost completely re-arranged, and very bluesy, allowing Steve Overland’s vocals to come to the fore. Listening to this track, it can be surprising to remember that none other than Iron Maiden once covered it as a B-side. Overland, as usual, is never less than brilliant on this release, and for all his other work with bands like The Ladder and Shadowman, when he sings with FM, everything just seems to fit and feel so right somehow.

Possibly the most interesting track for FM fans, though, is the sole previously unheard song, ‘Start It Up’. Originally recorded for the ‘Metropolis’ album, you can understand why it was left off. It’s not the best thing they’ve ever done by a long way, although the chorus is really good. For some reason it puts me in mind of Springsteen, and it’s one of those songs that, while it possibly doesn’t work in the context of the album, might have real potential with some extra work.

Overall then, the ‘City Limits EP’ is a worthwhile release. The quality of the material rarely lets up, the live songs are brilliantly recorded, and no-one can argue with the value for money. It’s pretty much essential for serious FM fans, even if only for the unreleased track, but AOR fans as a whole could use this as an introduction to a British band that deserves to be alongside the Americans in the AOR Hall of Fame. I’m thrilled they’re recording and performing again, and I can’t wait for them to get back out on the road.

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