Izvajalec: French TV
Založba: Samozaložba
Izid: year
Trajanje: 60:12
Ocena: 4.4/5
Pardon Our French je naslov osmega albuma skupine French TV. Tokrat so po dolgem času ponovno posegli po priredbah (v preteklosti so to storili že z Van Der Graaf Generator) in pokazali, da si niso zastonj nadeli takšnega imena. Gre za priredbe samih francoskih izvajalcev, oziroma venček priredb – Ange, Pulsar, Shylock, Carpe Diem, Atoll in Etron Fou Lelouban. Torej, mokre sanje vsakega ljubitelja francoske progresive in nočna mora za normalne ljudi.
Postava je tudi tokrat zasnovana okrog basista Mikea Saryja, ki je spet zbral pravo posadko, da pluje po morju nenanvadnih vizij in blodenj. Tudi tokrat jim je skupinsko uspelo ustvariti tisto pravo French TV organizirano zmešnjavo, kaos z rdečo nitjo in prav gotovo so navdušili svoje dolgoletne oboževalce in oboževalko.
Prvi dve skladbi sta tipični French TV stvaritvi. Pri njihovi mešanici avantgarde in občasne simfonike se ponovno pojavljajo “nenavadni” vplivi, kot je mehiška glasba in orientalski pridihi. Zopet jim uspe ustvariti celoto, ki je tekoča in neprisiljena. Na tretji kompoziciji so se odločili za predelave svojih najljubših francoskih progresivnih skupin (saj so vendar French TV), kot so Ange, Pulsar in Rock in Opposition legende Etron Fou Lelouban. Priredbe so izvrstne, ženski vokal odlično nadomesti moškega, le francoski naglas ni najbolj prepričliv (a tudi to doda nek šarm) – še posebej se opazi pomanjkanje nosnikov, joj joj joj. Za konec sta ostali še dve French TV klasiki, ki ponovno pokažeta kako dobro znajo možje biti nepredvidljivi s svojimi zmesmi tragičnega in komičnega, temačnega in smešnega.
French TV so izjemni glasbeniki, ki so slogovno precej prepoznavni, kljub temu pa znajo na vsakem albumu presenetiti s kakšno nepričakovano sestavino (tokrat pehtran, ki pa ni šel v potico). Tudi Pardon Our French ima tega dovolj. Polega tega je album tudi vrhunsko odigran in sproduciran. Ta izdelek bi znal biti bolj po godu ljudem, ki se bolj zanimajo za klasično progresivo kot ljubiteljem avantgarde (če ne zaradi drugega kot zaradi priredb) in je lahko dober uvod v skupino za vse tiste, ki jim bolj eksperimentalni slogi ne dišijo preveč. Kakorkoli že, French TV tudi tokrat postrežejo z dobro pojedino in v niti enem trenutku se ne počutiš prikrajšanega.
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Pardon Our French is the title of French TV’s eight album. After a long time, they decided to do covers again (they already had a cover of a Van Der Graaf Generator song before) and show that the name French TV is well deserved. Namely, they chose to do covers of only French artists – Ange, Pulsar, Shylock, Carpe Diem, Atoll and Etron Fou Lelouban. So, basically a wet dream for any fan of French progressive rock and a nightmare for normal people.
The line-up is again based around the bass player, Mike Sary, who is again surrounded by the right people to share his extraordinary vision. Again, they managed to create that perfect French TV organised confusion, chaos that makes sense. They must have made their fans and female fan very happy.
The first two pieces are typical of French TV. It’s a typical mixture of avant-garde and the occasional symphonic rock. Once more, we see some “unusual” influence, like Mexican and oriental music. They manage to create pieces that are fluid and unforced. They decided to cover their favourite French artists on the third piece (they are French TV after all). We can hear artists like Ange, Pulsar and Rock in Opposition legends Etron Fou Lelouban. The covers are great, the female vocal replaces the male excellently, only the French accent perhaps isn’t the most convincing (but it adds a certain charm, a certain je ne sais quoi) – the lack of nasals is especially noticeable. For the end, we have two more French TV classics, which again show how unpredictable the men can be with their mixture of tragic and comic, dark and humorous.
French TV are exceptional musicians with a very specific style, but they still manage to surprise with an unexpected ingredient on every album. Pardon Our French is also full of such elements. Besides that, the album is also masterfully played and produced. This effort might suit people who are more into classic prog (if for nothing else than the covers) and can serve as a good introduction for all people who aren’t that into the more experimental styles. Anyway, French TV cook up a feast again and you don’t feel deprived of anything at any moment.
Zasedba
Chris Smith – kitare, banjo, viola, violina, mandolina
Mike Sary – bas, klaviature
Warren Dale – klaviature, harmonika, marimba, sampli, flavte, piščali, orglice, tuba, saksofoni, klarinet
Jeff Gard – bobni in tolkala
Produkcija
Mike Sary, Warren Dale
Seznam skladb
1. Everything Works in Mexico (11:56)
2. Sekala Dan Niskala (6:20)
3. Pardon Our French (Medley) (16:59)
… 1. La Bataille Du Sucre (ANGE) / 2. Tired Answers (PULSAR) / 3. Laocksetal (SHYLOCK) / 4. Publiphobie (CARPE DIEM) / 5. Laocksetal (SHYLOCK) / 6. Tunnel Pt. 2 (ATOLL) / 7. Publiphobie (CARPE DIEM) / 8. Yvett’s Blouse (ETRON FOU LELOUBAN)
4. Tears of a Velvet Clown (13:17)
5. When the Ruff Tuff Creampufss Take Over (11:41)
