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OPERATION: MOCKINGBIRD

French TV

RIO/Avant-Prog


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French TV Operation: Mockingbird album cover
3.71 | 31 ratings | 2 reviews | 26% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2017

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Ghost Zone (2:29)
2. Noble Obelisk (5:37)
3. Urgent Fury (8:32)
4. Tree Incident (7:40)
5. Golden Pheasant of the Infinite Reach (10:41)
6. Nimrod Dancer (8:33)
7. Vigilant Sentinel (10:40)
8. Silent Years (3:48)

Total Time 58:00

Line-up / Musicians

- Katsumi Yoneda / guitar
- Patrick Strawser / keyboards
- Mike Sary / bass, loops, samples
- Mark L. Perry / drums, percussion

With:
- Nico Fabre / keyboards (4)
- Ludo Fabre / violin
- Karl Ledus / sax, flute

Releases information

CD Pretentious Dinosaur Records - #12 (2017, US)

Digital album

Thanks to mbzr48 for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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FRENCH TV Operation: Mockingbird ratings distribution


3.71
(31 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(26%)
26%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(55%)
55%
Good, but non-essential (13%)
13%
Collectors/fans only (3%)
3%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

FRENCH TV Operation: Mockingbird reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
4 stars Another pleasure has come to me. This "Operation: Mockingbird" has been released in September, 2017 as a FRENCH TV's newest album, that I could not wait for until then.The previous creation "Ambassadors Of Good Health And Clean Living" is one of the best albums in 2016 for me, so I've listened to and digested their new album carefully, with having massive expectation and slight anxiety. Just the moment I completed this stuff, my tiny anxiety was blown away.

"Operation: Mockingbird" is full of unique musical ideas, cynical phrases, and auditory illusions. Like an expensive bottle of French wine or Opus One in California, there is a kind of complex harmony and delicate balance produced with lots of magnificent sound elements. Sounds like each of the elements cannot be matched with others, but as a matter of fact, all of them can be harmonized perfectly, with incredible complexity.

What I can clearly understand via this album, their sound structure smells of apparent humanity, that might be deeply in a mind of every French TVer. I cannot help feeling that this soundscape has broken naturally out through their session or play rather than been produced artificially by themselves. Very sensitive melodic / rhythmic construction is well matured, regardless of fragility. What a mystery, and decent explosion.

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars I have to admit to liking this one more than most of their previous catalogue. The music has simplified and rounded it's acute, often jagged, edges in favor of an almost Smooth Jazz sound and feel--almost. The problem, however, comes in the feeling I have--almost constantly--that I'm listening to outtakes and experiments of Al Di Meola, Jan Hammer, and their collaborators in the early to mid-1980s.

1. "Ghost Zone" (2:29) synth wash-supported solo electric guitar opens the song while orchestral-like percussion play around in the background and wings. Is this a live-with-orchestra recording? (7.5/10)

2. "Noble Obelisk" (5:37) by the time the main instrument comes (electric guitar) in and the song has established its textural signatures, I am finding myself thinking of Jan Hammer, The Crusaders, and Al Di Meola. But the song never really settles into any kind of groove. As a matter of fact, you might say that by song's end I'm very confused as to what I just heard--what it's compositional purpose was. (8/10)

3. "Urgent Fury" (8:32) almost a parody of 1970s funk jazz fusion (led by such artists as the members of The Crusaders, Hubert & Ronnie Laws, Bob James, and even Jan Hammer and Al Di Meola) (7.5/10)

4. "Tree Incident" (7:40) again the music of Al Di Meola in the early 1980s comes to mind as I listen to this one. It's nice, pretty, with very competent musicianship, but something just feels old and borrowed. (8/10)

5. "Golden Pheasant Of The Infinite Reach" (10:41) interesting synth opening is spoiled by appearance of vintage keyboards, many of which are of that inferior sound gradient that I dislike from the late 1989s and 1990s. Plus, the song never really goes anywhere--other than the more melodic parts that sound as if they might be better served as a support vehicle for a Patti Austin or Teena Marie vocal. (7.5/10)

6. "Nimrod Dancer" (8:33) the Latin rhythmic structure and sounds once again bring up the Al DI MEOLA sound. Violin adds a Jean-Luc Ponty presence, otherwise, this is so Al Di. (7.5/10)

7. "Vigilant Sentinel" (10:40) (7/10)

8. "Silent Years" (3:48) old synths attempting a "pretty" almost minor-keyed Satie-like song. Nope. (6.5/10)

Three stars; a good album of vintage sounding jazz fusion.

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