French TV - 2017 - Operation: Mockingbird

(57:58; Pretentious Dinosaur Productions)

Track list:
1. Ghost Zone 2:29
2. Noble Obelisk 5:38
3. Urgent Fury 8:31
4. Tree Incident 7:38
5. Golden Pheasant of the Infinite Reach 10:40
6. Nimrod Dancer 8:35
7. Vigilant Sentinel 10:40
8. Silent Years 3:47

Line-up:
Mike Sary - bass, loops, samples
Katsumi Yoneda - guitars
Mark L. Perry - drums, percussion
Patrick Strawser - keyboards
with:
Ludovic Fabre - violin
Karl Ledus - saxophone, flute
Nico Fabre - keyboards


Prolusion.
US band French TV can look back at 40 years of being an active band, and can safely be considered to be a veteran player in the progressive rock scene in the US. A grand total of fourteen albums have been released by the band in the decades they have been active, of which thirteen are studio productions. The album "Operation: Mockingbird" is their twelfth album overall, and was released through their own label Pretentious Dinosaur Productions back in 2017.

Analysis.
French TV have by and large been a band that have been placed inside of an avant progressive rock context, and I guess that is the case also with this album from a few years back. A case could be argued for this production to be filed under jazzrock as well, but the scope and total orientation probably makes the avant tag the best suitable one also in this case, all matters considered.

While the opening and concluding creations on this CD are different, the former a case of ambient progressive music done right and the latter a brilliant case of a haunting atmospheric laden excursion, in between we get a good handful of well developed material performed by musicians with a clear view and vision of what they want to accomplish.

Recurring and borderline dominant aspects of all the compositions are elegant, melodic and mesmerizing displays of jazzrock where a captivating bass groove, steady rhythms and elegant harmony and instrument solo overlays are defining features. Sometimes explored in a more playful and borderline funky manner, in other cases with a tighter and more vibrant edge but always executed in an elegant and captivating manner.

In between and in some cases prior and after these elegant and captivating sections the band showcase the additional dimensions to the landscapes they explore. Dramatic impact moments and detours come and go, left turns into territories explored with more of a whimsical glee, interludes of challenging, angular or otherwise demanding instrument details that comes with a distinct avant flavor, a little bit of flirting with what might be described as symphonic progressive rock, and the occasional build up of majestic, powerful arrangement surges. With the token inclusions of tones and timbres that adds the occasional darker toned and unnerving undercurrent.

As with all other albums I have come across by this band the mix and production holds the same high quality as the music. And while this probably is music with a more narrow and defined audience, this is a production that should be of interest to the greater majority of people within that crowd.

Conclusion.
I have yet to come across an album by US band French TV that didn't impress me in some manner or other. That is the case also with "Operation: Mockingbird", a production I would describe as an elegant and expressive variety of instrumental jazzrock explored inside of an avant progressive rock tradition. And for those who find such a description interesting, my impression is that this production comes with a guarantee for high quality and suitably challenging entertainment.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, January 2023

Links:
https://french-tv.net/