The FMs @ Berlin, November 23

THE FMs RELEASE NEW ALBUM, 51122, ON NOVEMBER 22

NYC RECORD RELEASE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 23 AT BERLIN

STREAM “FUTURE POPE” HERE

STREAM “A MEANS TO AN END” (JOY DIVISION COVER) HERE

“The spirit of punk music lives on a little longer.” – Metal Epidemic

(images here, credit Dylan Mars Greenberg)

The FMs will release 51122 on November 22. Produced by the legendary David Werner and inspired by lo-fi dream pop, classic new wave and synthpunk, the album follows PINK + BLACK, their sophomore record released earlier this year to acclaim from NY Daily News, MetroWeekly, GLAAD, Mundane Magazine, New Noise Magazine, and beyond. 51122 corresponds with May 11, 2022 – the day that Frankie Rex, founding member of The FMs, passed away from a fentanyl overdose.

Of “Future Pope,” out today, Matte Namer shares: “We have been accelerating to this moment of political panic in 2024, and The FMs are releasing ‘Future Pope,’ a prophetic dance-march beaming cybernetic synths, and funk-punk guitars. Conceptually dizzying yet socially relevant, we journey forward to a tyrant able to tap into the same rage mania of the Trump era but used with much more Machiavellian effectiveness – potentially an even darker moment, yet with still with hope brought forth by the subversive gender outlaws hacking the paradigm.”

Of “A Means to an End” (Joy Division cover), they share: “Frankie and I were for years tossing around doing a cover song but could never agree on the right one. We’ve always been into Joy Division and actually covered ‘She’s Lost Control’ in our first band. One day I asked Frankie what their favorite Joy Division song was and he said ‘A Means to an End’ and I was like, let’s just do that. I went off the rails on this synth & digi drums-only arrangement trying to harness the chaotic unexpected nature of JD. Frankie did this mind-blowing performance, maybe my favorite thing we’ve ever recorded of their voice in three takes. Our producer for 51112, David Werner, then took our demos, simplified them a bit in a way and put his own spin on a few things that ultimately elevated the recording quite significantly.”

Of 51122, she notes: “I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud and excited for an album release. There’s an identity and flow to these ten songs that feel like our most developed work thus far. We got to work with David Werner who understood our music and energy and how to elevate it and direct it. It’s also a bit somber being the last music that I think will ever be released with Frankie’s incredible, powerful, unique voice. I think there’s something about that that makes me remember they are really gone, like an orchid blooming from a coffin nail. 51122 is the date Frankie passed away, but is also a type of symbol in a way, or perhaps a word. I’m not sure what that meaning is yet, perhaps the orchid needs to grow.”

The FMs will celebrate the release of 51122 on November 23 with a record release show at NYC’s Berlin (25 Avenue A). Tickets are available now.