THE VIOLENCE OF AMATEURS

What's French TV? How about a crazy, RIO-influenced, Cantebury sounding, fusiony pyrotechnical freakout band from the middle of Kentucky?

Seriously, with a name like theirs and as obscure and as overlooked as they are (even on PA), I absolutely had to get in on the fun. Right away, the group fires on all cylinders as ''The Kokonimo Stomp'' goes through a plethora of jazz riffs (with a little bluegrass thrown in for whatsits sake) without sounding awkward or forced. The band clearly knows how to have loads of fun, and the first two tracks show it with the second having surf rock as its main base.

Starting with ''The Odessa Steps Sequence'', the group veers into a more serious musical direction with the unique keyboard sound (I don't know what in tarnation it is) stealing the show. The very long ''Joosan Lost/The Fate'' actually goes through only a few themes in its 21+ minute span, but really keeps the interest there as it sounds like epic James Bond movie music.

''Tiger Tea'' and ''Mail Ordered Quarks'' are where I start to have problems with the album as the serious-ness of the music becomes too overbearing; both songs are boring fusion ramblings devoid of a memorable moment. But, this album is the carnival freak show of the prog rock world, and it's worth hearing just for the novelty of it. Even if you don't like the music, the liner notes will make you laugh until you wet your pants.