[FONT=arial,helvetica]Genuinely novel synthesis systems are increasingly hard to come by. The last big new thing was physical modelling, and its main task these days seems to be recreating decades-old analogue technology. The FS1R isn't completely revolutionary -- it features a development of 15-year-old technology, after all -- but it does manage to offer a sound and method quite unlike any other synth on the market. Even for those who don't want to do in-depth programming the FS1R has lots to offer; there are tons of quality presets, which can be easily layered into new Performances and then tweaked with the front-panel knobs, all with no real knowledge of FM needed. And though programming enthusiasts will probably find that the FS1R requires a bit of effort to come to grips with, the results should more than repay their time and trouble. Formant Shaping, in particular, is a serious, exciting achievement on the part of this synth's designers and a breakthrough at any price, let alone at £699. Looks like FM's back to stay![/FONT]