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French TV — The Spanish Caper
(Cuneiform Rune 544/545, 2026, 2CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-07-30

The Spanish Caper Cover art

I’ve been a fan of French TV for a long time. I don’t even remember when exactly I first encountered them (this happens after you’ve reviewed thousands of releases over the course of decades). Classic albums like The Case Against Art, The Violence of Amateurs, and Operation: Mockingbird cemented FTV as one of the prime American avant-progressive bands. I have to admit that The Spanish Caper is the first album by the band that hasn’t grabbed me right out of the gate, though repeated listenings have improved its standings. In harmony with the cover art and the album title, much of the music sounds as if it could have been written as the soundtrack to a 70s spy thriller movie, with breezy themes and funky beats. What you won’t hear is the complex Canterbury / RIO sound the band has presented on most of their albums. Founder Mike Sary (bass) is joined by Katsumi Yoneda (guitar), Jeff Gard (drums), Nico Fabre (keyboards), Ludo Fabre (violin), and Karl Ledus (sax, weirdophone), and Fabre’s violin provides a number of the album’s highlights. Long-time fans of the band may be put off by the shift in focus for French TV, as I was. Aside from misplaced expectations — a band is allowed to explore different styles, after all — it’s not a bad album, and does contain some good performances.

In addition to its eight original tracks, The Spanish Caper features an entire extra CD of covers. These are tunes dating from 1968 to 1973 which Mike Sary found influential. Some of them are relatively well known, but several are on the obscure side. It’s interesting to get a taste of these influences, but honestly none of these versions is especially memorable, and you’d be better off seeking out the originals. For reference, since the Bandcamp site doesn’t include the details, here are all of the songs:

  • “20th Century Man” (Ray Davies) The Kinks — Muswell Hillbillies (1971)
  • “Nantucket Sleighride” (Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins) Mountain — Nantucket Sleighride (1971)
  • “Goin’ a Little Crazy” (Burton Cummings, Kurt Winter) The Guess Who — So Long, Bannatyne (1971)
  • “Fresh Garbage” (Jay Ferguson) Spirit — Spirit (1968)
  • “Butterfly Bleu” (Iron Butterfly) Iron Butterfly — Metamorphosis (1970)
  • “The Dead Man’s Dream” (Gary Brooker) Procol Harum — Home (1970)
  • “Take a Look Around” (Joe Walsh) James Gang — Yer Album (1969)
  • “Funky Judge” (Andre Williams, Leo Hutton) Bull & the Matadors — single (1968)
  • “Freedom Rider” (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) Traffic — John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
  • “Days and Nights” (Steve Hill, Warren Ham) Bloodrock — Passage (1972)
  • “A Million Miles Away” (Rory Gallagher) Rory Gallagher - Tattoo (1973)
  • “Renegade” (John Kay, Larry Byrom) Steppenwolf — 7 (1970)

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): French TV, Pat Strawser

More info
http://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-spanish-caper

 

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