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.
PROGRESSOR; from VM: May 11, 2006
French TV: This is What We Do
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 TV: This Is What We Do (CD on Pretentious Dinosaur Records )
This release from 2005 features 52 minutes of delightful progrock.
French TV is: Chris Smith, Warren Dale, Mike Sary, Jeff Gard, and Paolo Botta.
Fuzz-boxed guitars indulge in frenetic riffs that
dive into complex percussive structures while sweeping keyboards
provide a pastoral foundation for horns and woodwinds to flourish with
unexpected verve. Rumbling basslines hide within the mix, generating
sturdy cohesion and oily alliances between each engaging moment.
With light and airy flute passages lurking right
around the corner from dazzling drum explosions, a constant level of
the unexpected is maintained throughout this music. Yet a unifying
dedication exists that cements it all together with satisfying results.
The riffs are slippery and slide around with
playful abandon, moving from gritty Soft Machine clouds to a
hyperactive Zappa frivolity to pensive jazz introspections to more
lighthearted outbursts of National Health passion. The melodies are
passed around between the instruments like favorite books, granting
each performer the opportunity to tinker and experiment before handing
off to the next stage of variation. The five songs on this release
average 10 minutes each, affording each melody to fully develop,
allowing the performers freedom to explore all possible variations.
Highly recommended for those searching for exciting tuneage.
-----SONIC CURIOUSITY.COM
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