Skladbe:
1. Colorless Green Ideas Sleep Furiously (10:19)
2. Ska Face (8:24)
3. My Little Cicada (11:48)
4. Look at the Bears (8:10)
5. Theme from ESPN X-treme (13:01)

Trajanje Albuma: 51:42

Glasbeniki:
Mike Sary – bas, vokal
Warren Dale – klaviature, pihala, kladiva
Chris Smith – kitare, violine, eksotična brenkala
Jeff Gard – bobni
Gostje:
Steven Dale - trobenta (1 & 2)
Pam Thompson – trombon (2)
Paolo Botta – klaviature (3)

Produkcija: Mike Sary, Warren Dale
Leto izdaje: 2005
Založba: samozaložba
Distribucija:
Možnost nakupa: http://www.waysidemusic.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=PD%20008

Avtor recenzije: Rok Podgrajšek
Ocena:

4.6

Ker je French TV ena najbolj izvirnih in delovnih zasedb v ZDA, je še toliko težje razložiti njihovo neprepoznavnost, tako v ZDA kot drugje. Mike Sary je celo nehal iskati založbe, ki bi izdajale njihove albume in je raje ustanovil svojo.

Album se začne s pesmijo s tipično (za French TV) abstraktnim naslovom in z glasbo, ki se popolnoma ujema z njim. Veliko je sprememb ritma, prav tako je veliko razpoloženjskih nihanj, od meditativnih delov do jeznih in zabavnih. Ta kompozicija prikaže vse najboljše lastnosti skupine. V le eno skladbo so sposobni dati tako veliko čustev in stilov, da se človek le čudi. Tudi nadaljevanje je podobno. Ska Face se začne s ska ritmom, a kmalu se razvije v tipično French Tv norijo. Sledi My Little Cicada, kjer lahko slišimo grozljive mellotronske dele, ki potegnejo na King Crimson, ko so na delu pihala pa se sliši tudi vpliv Henry Cow. Prehodi so zopet tekoči, kasneje pa se v skladbi sliši tudi čudovito igranje na violini (Chris Smith), opazni pa so tudi izjemni deli na Hammond orglah in kitari. Look at the Bears me na trenutke spominja na Happy the Man, spet drugič pa na Emerson, Lake and Palmer ali Henry Cow. Gre za še eno skladbo z odlično energijo in ne čudi me, da jo zelo radi igrajo na koncertih. Za konec albuma so nam prihranili še eno poslastico z nenavadnim naslovom. Začne se kot odličen fusion, potem se razpoloženje dostikrat spremeni, a vedno se vrnejo na izvirno stopnjo navdušenja.

French TV vplive črpa iz tako veliko različnih virov, da se včasih zdi kot da gre le za skupek različnih žanrov in vplivov, a ta skupek se zdi popolnoma naraven in glasba nemoteno teče. Ponavadi imajo skupine težave z obvladovanjem toliko žanrov in s preklaplanjem med njimi, a pri French TV se zdi sila preprosto. Včasih lahko slišiš čisti jazz-rock, drugič ska, potem simfoničen rock v stilu Emerson, Lake and Palmer, včasih se slišijo mehiški in vzhodnjaški vplivi, medtem ko spet drugič zvenijo izjemno eksperimentalni. V njihovi glasbi slišim vplive mnogih drugih glasbenikov - Zappa, Hatfield and the North, Henry Cow, Samla Mammas Manna, Happy the Man, Van der Graaf Generator... - a mislim, da je njihov glavni namen, da ustvarijo glasbo z lastnim karakterjem.

Nobenih kritik nimam glede igranja in zvoka na albumu. Vodje skupine, Mike Sary, je nor basist. Mnogokrat se lahko izgubi v morju klaviatur in pihal, a ko se sliši, je vedno točen in zanimiv. Warren Dale je s svojo goro klaviatur in pihal morda najbolj opazen glasbenik na albumu. Zna pričarati prave atmosphere, zna pa na sintetizatorju in Hammond orglah igrati tudi hitro kot veter. Chris Smith je prav tako prepričljiv s svojim Frippovskim slogom - rezerviran a vedno pod kontrolo. Prav tako prispeva nekaj pomembnih violinskih vložkov. Zadnji del uganke je bobnar Jeff Gard, ki je v svojem delu soliden in primeren. Na plošči je tudi nekaj gostov, najbolj opazen med njimi pa je Paolo Botta (Yugen), ki s French TV nastopa, ko igrajo v Evropi.

Mislim, da ni možno, da bi French TV izdali slab album. Imajo preprosto pravi občutek za kombinacijo med dobrimi melodijami in eksperimentalnimi deli. Težko bi mi bilo izbrati le en album, ki mi je najbolj pri srcu, a če bi me kdo prisilil, bi verjetno izbral This Is What We Do. Ne vem natanko zakaj, zdi se le kot da se je tukaj vse ujelo. French TV so z leti le boljši in nestrpno pričakujem naslednji album.

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French TV is an American band playing mostly in the RIO/avant-garde style, but in all honestly, it is hard to categorize them with just this term as their music is influenced by so many different things. The only original member left from the group that started out in the early 80s is bass player Mike Sary who always manages to find competent musicians to play with him. This Is What We Do is their 8th studio album and as far as I'm concerned, their best to date.

Seeing as French TV is one of the most original and prolific American bands, it is hard to account for their lack of recognition, both in America and everywhere else. Mike Sary even gave up looking for a label to sign them and instead opted for releasing their albums on his own label.

The album starts with a song with a typically (for French TV) abstract title with music that fits the abstract moniker perfectly. There are many changes of pace and different moods, from meditative to furious and quirky. This piece exhibits everything that's great about French TV. They are able to incorporate so many emotions and styles into just one composition. The next piece fits that bill as well. Ska Face starts with a ska beat, but it soon transforms into a typical French TV frenzy. The album continues with My Little Cicada, where we hear some eerie Crimson-like mellotron passages and Henry Cow reed and wind work. The transitions between these parts is again effortless and later on in the composition we hear some fine violin playing by Chris Smith and some amazing Hammond and guitar parts as well. Look at the Bears reminds me in parts of Happy the Man, in other parts of ELP or Henry Cow. This is another composition with great energy and it's no wonder that it's one of their concert favourites. For the end of the album, they saved another corker with an unusual title. It starts off as a great fusion workout, then goes through several steadier moods, but always returns to the original level of enthusiasm.

French TV draw from so many musical wells that their music sometimes seems like a collage of different genres and influences. However, this collage seems completely normal and the music flows without any disruptions. Usually, bands find it difficult to master so many genres and switch between them, but with French TV it seems easy. Sometimes, you may hear straight-out jazz-rock, sometimes ska, sometimes symphonic rock in the ELP style, on occasion you may even hear Eastern and Mexican music influences, while at other times they sound very experimental. I hear many influences from other musicians in their music - Zappa, Hatfield and the North, Henry Cow, Samla Mammas Manna, Happy the Man, Van der Graaf Generator... - but I think that they mainly strive to create music with its own character.

The playing and the sound on the album is beyond reproach. The band leader, Mike Sary, is a monster bass player. He may sometimes get lost in the sea of keyboards and reeds and winds, but when you do hear him, he is always precise and intriguing. Warren Dale is perhaps the most noticeable musician here, with his array of keyboards and reeds and winds. He knows how to create atmospheres and also play lightning fast on the synth and Hammond. Chris Smith is a sublime guitarist who continues in the Robert Fripp tradition of reserved yet totally controlled playing. He also contributes some hugely important violin parts. The final piece of the puzzle is drummer Jeff Gard, who is very solid at what he does. There are also some guest musicians on the album, most notably Paolo Botta (Yugen), who also plays with French TV when they tour Europe.

I think it's impossible for French TV to record a bad album. They simply have such a great feel for balancing the good melodies and the experimental passages. It is hard to choose just one favourite French TV album, but if I was forced into it, I would have to say that This Is What We Do is my personal favourite. I don't really know why, it just seems that they got all the ingredients right for this one. French TV just keep getting better, so I eagerly await their next release.