Franck Carducci - Sheeple Progressive Voyages Review.
Unlike many of my fellow Prog fans, I know very little of Franck Carducci's music, I have read glowing reports of the fabulously theatrical performances, So this new albums offers me a chance to engage and interact with that whole reason d'etre. So lets drive straight into the album and see what I hink as a novice or virgin!
Sheeple begins with the title track Sheeple which is an brief instrumental mainly hammond organ and a few sheep noises at its commencement, it its a fine performance, this is followed by the first rocker- Self Righteousness, this is a song about being compliant and not making waves, following what you are told accepting it without any critical thinking being employed, the song calls us out on that rationale,
Sweet Cassandra follows, the song is about Cassandra the prophetess whose predictions were largely dismissed as being false of in today's language Fake News,the song talks about how this makes her feel.
This is followed by the albums first epic track The Betrayal Of Blue, this song is excellent and its aided in that excellence by the Theramin performed by Mary Reynaud, and the performances of all the band,
The Limits Of Freedom is up next and again this is another rocker it is in 3 parts using 3 personaliies to get its point across, the first voice is that of a dolphin, who realises that despite being free there are limitations on him, The next voice us the billionaire who despite having lots of money, Still chases more, However fears for his own mortality. Knowing that he can't buy eternal life. The next voice we hear from is the Rock Star who in lockdown, He faces a whole new challenge in trying to stay relatable in a world that has changed beyond his recognition. So has to seek a new way of existing and to bringing both meaning and also worth and value to his living,
Love Or Survive is next, It is the albums longest track at just under thiirteen and a quarter minutes in duration, this again in a few parts, beginning
Wth Some sustained guitar lines offset against gentle piano notes makes for an atmospheric opening passages, vocals commence with additional instruments and voices before a drum beat is added, this sound is really strong with powerful guitar rhythms playing, The next part is Survive which begins with acoustic guitar strumming and piano which builds in its intensity as an electric guitar figure is played and the volume builds steadily leading to a classy guitar solo from Franck, he really shows some fine skills here, its a lengthy solo that never fails to impress on every level the bass runs in tandem with the solo, the gentle piano returns for the verse, The verse is very bleak speaking of fears leading to isolation and division, there then follows an interesting instrumental section withbsome great hammond organ parts, the final section keeps asking what will you choose between love and Survive a very interesting track indeed.
There is a reprise of Sweet Cassandra a lockdown version which furtherreinforces the strength of the song, this is folowedvby a further reprise as an instrumental version.
Final track is called Do What They're Told, which is performed entirely by Franck playing everything which chanting They Do What They're Told
Another song about compliance although Franck's last line is I Do What I Fucking Want so they're is fightback against the system albeit subtly and subversive.
Well its an interesting album for sure, One I will definitely return to again and I will ensure I go and experience it live as soon as I possibly can as well.
This is very well worth hearing now I need to explore more of his music for myself. Special mention should be made of all the great members of the Fantastic Squad who assisted in making this great album Mary Reynaud, Guitar, Vocals and Theremin,Lead Fernandes Drums, Cedric Selzar Hammond Organ Barth Sky Guitar and Vocals,
Info here:Franck Carducci: Sheeple, CD Edition https://share.google/4ZSr6RFyjvhhlZRNO
Author John Wenlock-Smith Saturday 9th May 2026.