FRENCH TV -- BAND OF DESTINY

FRENCH TV 9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO
(EXPOSE ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS)

Paul Hightower:
    Among American prog bands French TV is almost legendary. Not merely due to their skill and musicianship, but also due to the fact that they're even still around. Bassist Mike Sary is the only current member who can claim to have been with the group from the beginning, and their history is a case study in the difficulty in keeping a band dedicated to this style of music together. The lineup on this album was in fact the most stable in quite some time, though recent news has keyboards/reeds player Warren Dale departing and guitarist Chris Smith's future also in doubt. Drummer Jeff Gard also seems to have bid adieu since this album was recorded, so yet again Sary is left alone to ponder the future of French TV (Note from Mike Sary: if Jeff has indeed left the band, he certainly has an odd way of expressing this, as he insists on showing up for rehearsals and recording sessions for FTV10). Maybe it's the music that causes everything to fly apart. Certainly it sounds like equal parts Canterbury-style prog rock, jazz, carnival music, show tunes, and cartoon soundtracks with bits of ethnic music, all crammed into a blender and then pureed at high speed. The arrangements never stand stil or hold an idea for more than 30 seconds before launching off into what seems at times like totally random new directions. Throughout it all the skill of the players is impeccable, and it's hard to accuse these five tracks of being boring. Perhaps Gary Parra's (Cartoon/PFS/Trap) quote from the band website says it best: "How do you guys REMEMBER all that stuff?" (note from MS yet again: it was bassist extradinaire Michael Manring who provided that quote after a bill we shared in San Francisco). Highly recommended for ADD progheads.

Jon Davis:
    Sometimes I think French TV must be the result of a gene-splicing experiment combining DNA from Djam Karet and The Muffins. Then I hear a violin and that theory goes in the file with phlogiston and the turtle that carries the world on its back. In Seattle we have a saying: "If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes" (I'm sure people in many cities have a similar saying.) Well, if you don't like French TV, wait a minute or two. It doesn't take them ten minutes to change sounds. But it all mashes together and makes sense somehow. At least to me - I suppose some listeners might prefer a little more consistency. Mellotron-backed guitar freakouts trading fours with twittery monosynth; RIO-like woodwind parts bordering on dissonant chaos or perhaps Gentle Giant-like polyphony; a spoken bit that sounds like Dalek poetry; tempo changes just when things are getting into a groove...these wonders and many more await you at the freak show. There's another saying that seems appropriate: "It's so crazy, it just might work!" That's a statement I can picture being used frequently at French TV arranging sessions. It's their willingness to persevere against the bounds of safety that makes the music thrilling to me. That and titles like "Theme from ESPN X-treme Cobalt Blue 4x4 Bathroom Tile Installation Games" - how can you resist something like that?
----EXPOSE #34, March 2007

FRENCH TV 9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO

Tracklisting:
1. Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously
2. Ska Face
3. My Little Cicada
4. Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears!
5. Theme From ESPN X-Treme Cobalt Blue 4x4 Bathroom Tile Installation Games

Kentucky’s French TV returns two years on from their album Pardon our French! with This is What We Do, released on Pretentious Dinosaur Records.

   French TV has historically had somewhat of a rotating, fluid lineup. On this latest album, French TV’s music is brought to you by Mike Sary on bass, Jeff Gard on drums, Warren dale on keyboards/sax/winds, and Chris Smith on guitar/violin. They are aided on This is What We Do

Describing French TV’s music to someone who’s never heard them before is a difficult task. There are various elements of Canterbury whimsy, Rock in Opposition angularity and Zappa-esque complexity. On the album’s opening track, “Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously,” jerky, off-rhythm beats flow into relaxed, jazzy interludes where flute and sax tones dominate. Following on from there, ominous bass and synth interplay continue the strange musical journey. The music is never safe, never predictable. That is one of French TV’s calling cards, so to speak, and it’s what makes their music so maddeningly enjoyable to listen to. Much like a Frank Zappa album, you never know from song to song (and often from moment to moment within a song) what’s going to happen and where the song is going to go.

   This is What We Do is a solid addition to French TV’s musical curriculum vitae, and serves as a great introduction to one of America’s most underrated progressive bands. by Paolo Botta, who adds keyboards on “My Little Cicada.” Their music is 99% instrumental; only “My Little Cicada” includes anything resembling vocals, courtesy of Mike Sary.

----PROGSCAPE.COM; Reviewer: Bill Knispel

FRENCH TV 9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO

Prolusion. "This is What We Do" is the ninth proGduction by FRENCH TV, which (as every Prog lover should know like their ABC!) 'broadcasts' from the USA. The history of this fantastically innovative group begins in 1981; their debut took place in 1984, and since 1994 they, thankfully, release one CD in two years on average. If you are curious to read the other French TV-related reviews on this site or at least to see my rating on each of the band's albums, please click here.

Analysis. French TV is back with nothing else but the Fifth Element of the first water in their bag. In other words, it's extremely innovative music, which avoids any precise definitions, and particularly those originating from classic progressive genres. Although the tendency to constantly change their primordially original style was always typical of this band, "What They Do" this time out does not remind me of anything they've done before or anything else in general. Can you remember how bizarre The Gates of Delirium from Yes's "Relayer" sounded when you heard it the first time? Does this frantic epic still sound both fresh and unusual to you? And, knowing all this, do you really find it to be the work of classic symphonic Art-Rock? Well if so, you will most likely perceive "This is What We Do" much in the same way, despite the fact that no parallels can be drawn on the field that true freethinkers work on, i.e. between the cited examples in our case. Trust me, there is neither snobbery nor dirty trick in these my discrepant assertions, and it was I myself to whom I've addressed all the above questions and their daughterly contradictions first. Many years passed until I realized that The Gates of Delirium is woven throughout not only of symphonic fabrics, but features elements of many progressive genres: from Art-Rock and Jazz-Fusion to Prog-Metal and even RIO-like forms, even though the former seem to be prevalent. There is a similar picture on the general stylistic level, much of the music arousing vivid associations with the gold vintage sound of the '70s and, at the same time, having a wonderful futuristic sense. The violin and various woodwinds however, impart a certain chamber sense to FTV-9, while the brass instruments make the Jazz-Fusion component more distinct in places, particularly in the middle of each of the first two compositions, Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously and Ska Face, both, unlike the other tracks, featuring guest trombone players. The centerpiece My Little Cicada is notable for a longish episode with atmospheric violin- and acoustic guitar-laden arrangements, which can relatively be referred to symphonic Space Rock. In the beginning of Look at the Bears the organ somewhat calls to mind a theme from "Pictures at an Exhibition", but not for long, soon giving way to the clarinet and bass exercising new methods in Chamber Rock. On the Theme from ESPN X-treme can be found some Classical-like movements, though it's some exotic stringed instrument (reminds me of Turkish Saz), which probably should be regarded as the main factor discriminating this piece from the others. With the exception of these peculiarities, the compositions have much common ground between themselves, each coming with no thematic sections as such, but consisting exclusively of ever-changing, both highly eclectic and cohesive arrangements. With an average track length of 10+ minutes, there is more than enough time to develop themes and push them through countless twists and turns. Not a second is wasted and no direct nods to the past either! The music is abundant in everything that a profound Prog head can dream of. Best tracks include all five of the tracks present, each showing that there are few bands on the contemporary scene on a par with French TV in their intelligent ability to construct long polymorphous compositions, that would be equally cerebral and fascinating. It's like reading a thrilling sci-fi to listen to what these monsters of Prog do here.

Conclusion. Dear reader, you shouldn't be a mathematician or rocket scientist to comprehend this album. Just give it one listen, and it will grow on you with each successive one. The music just breathes with a living energy, which is always a sign of genuine inspiration. Beginner? At least remember this name, French TV. It will forever be stamped in any yet-to-be written Rock Encyclopedia. Sounds pathetic? I weighed my every word before putting it here.

This is What We Do is the 9th release from progressive rock chameleons French TV. The title of the CD itself is pretty indicative, as if to say "well, here it is folks, this is us in a nutshell". For prog fans, that is certainly reason to celebrate. Regular readers of Sea of Tranquility and of course fans of the band should be no strangers to the sound of this Kentucky ensemble, who seamlessly blend influences like Frank Zappa, Happy the Man, Gentle Giant, Univers Zero, The Muffins, Hatfield & the North, King Crimson, and ELP, and come out with this engaging yet complex wonder of sound that calls itself French TV. This latest release continues along the same path, as the band, led by bassist Mike Sary, weaves their way through 5 tracks of complex surprises and adventures.

The cast of French TV this time around is basically the same as on Pardon Our French from 2004, as joining Sary yet again are Chris Smith on guitars & violin, Warren Dale on keyboards, winds, reeds, & mallets, and Jeff Gard on drums. Guests include Paolo Botta, who plays keyboards on one track, Pam Thompson on trombone, and Steven Dale on trumpet. There's a healthy mix of the eclectic (organized mayhem I like to call it) as well as some truly beautiful and breathtaking stuff. The latter is most evident on the humorously titled "Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears! Look at the Bears!", which mixes some lush prog with quirky & intricate Canterbury styled jazz. Featuring some soaring woodwinds, intense fuzz guitar, and symphonic keyboard solos, this one is a real keeper. Not that the rest of the songs don't click as well. The opening "Colorless Ideas Sleep Furiousl" is a proggy delight with wild keyboard arrangements, as the band shows their love for ELP, while "Ska Face" really grooves with some danceable rhythms and Zappa-ish workouts, especially from the guitars and reeds. "My Little Cicada" seems to hit from many levels, jazz one minute, 70's prog the next (listen for the Mellotron washes), to bouncy and bubbly Canterbury based fusion the next. Most importantly, the song has tremendous groove, which is always important. The closing epic "Theme From ESPN X-treme Cobalt Blue 4x4 bathroom Tile Installation Games" is a real fun piece, with plenty of solo spots for all the players, as well as catchy melodies and an overall fun atmosphere to it.

You get the feeling that French TV really like what they do, as there is just a jovial feeling you get from listening to this CD. That's really a characterist of the band in general-they are having fun, and they want the listener to have fun as well. I certainly did, so go out and grab a copy of This is What We Do and be prepared to be wowed and moved... and enjoy yourself while you are at it.
----SEA OF TRANQUILITY, reviewed by Pete Pardo

FRENCH TV9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO (2006 Pretentious Dinosaur)
French TV is a band who, within their music, spontaneously combusts at every given opportunity. Over the past seven years of listening to their music, it's been a hard road for me travelling with French TV, it eventually paid dividends when their previous two CD's finally won me over. Whether this was down to their blind determination to test my breaking point or it could of course be that they are so much better or maybe my taste in music has broadened: the answer I think actually lies within the last two points.

Moving on to this new album, what another surprise! This is another barnstorming, nerve jangling creation of notes interspersed with, surprise, surprise, calm moments of sanity which really is chillout music in a mad kinda jazz rock way. This became apparent right from the onset where a Rick Ray/Rick Schultz form of progressive/jazz/rock fusion lay a foundation for the whole album. Thought provoking jazz rock, yes, who would have thought it? The keys resonate with warm sounds, there really is structure in this music now. The sax and violin overlaid with biting guitar is perfectly executed especially on "My Little Cicada". I have no idea if my previous references to Tull's "Passion Play" is frowned upon by purists but again I hear it running through this album especially on "Look At The Bears........". This track is undoubtedly a mile stone for this band. The same can be said for "The Theme From ESPN........" which contains everything that is great about modern day French TV. Swirling sax, flute, hammond organ, thudding bass, keys and and violin all bring back happy memories of the great Dutch band Alquin, Solution, maybe ELP and to a lesser extent early Caravan. The quirkier side of French TV's music is not evident at all now, thankfully it has become more serious and dare I say deep, although this quirkiness can still can be found in the song titles that sound as though they were lifted from some unreleased Caravan album.
The two intervening years between releases has been well worth the wait, French TV have truly matured into a major force within the jazz rock genre. With a tour planned for Europe in September 2006 and the outside chance of a show or two in England this can hopefully bring their music to a wider and bigger audence. This is the second French TV album in succession to hit E.P.R.R. album of the year list. No reservation at all, 100%.
---Terry Tucker, EUROPEAN PROGRESSIVE ROCK REVIEWS

FRENCH TV 9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO
Kentucky-based French TV has been beavering away producing quirky, off-beat prog mayhem for a number of years now, and this release finds the band to be in its finest oddity. In many ways, they are a traditional prog band, in that they are highly individualistic and inventive players, just as capable of doing the simple as they are the complicated. They see no musical boundaries and so they go for it. The result is a brilliant rambling mess of RIO, Canterbury, and symphonic prog styles whose gravity will draw in any other influence or invention it needs. If you haven't tried them out yet, you should. They are fun, adventurous, and eccentric. How can you argue against a band that can call one tune Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously, and another Bathroom Tile Installation Games?
----Bernard Law, CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY MAGAZINE

FRENCH TV 9: THIS IS WHAT WE DO
SOUND: *** COMPOSITION: *** MUSICIANSHIP: **** PERFORMANCE *** TOTAL RATING: 13
French TV have a healthy disrespect for the conventions of prog. This band is all about the music; style, tradition, and convention be damned. Sure, this is, at its core, a progressive band, but the members follow their collective muse and have the skills, creativity, and musicianship to deliver. Who else would mix ska with prog and make it work as they do with "Ska Face"? The brass, including trombone, the syncopated guitar and manic drumming say ska, but this ain't Reel Big Fish, as the majestic keys and dramatic gestures make clear.

In "My Little Cicada," we hear something akin to King Crimson, from its early mellotron epics to the mid-'70s angular, angry outbursts; little Relayer-era Yes synth licks; and Zappa-style wind and violin lines. All are mixed together in a crazy quilt of styles, moods, and textures that defy logic and hang together as real, solid composition.

The juxtapositions may not be as jarring and manic as those in John Zorn's Naked City, but they are similarly unlikely and make for intriguing and compelling listening. This is music that rewards repeated listens.
-----Dean Suzuki, PROGRESSION MAGAZINE #50