MARC MOULIN: PLACEBO SESSIONS 71-74

After years of neglecting a much in demand for Placebo vinyls, mostly due to Acid-jazz and techno artists (frequent sampling from his albums), some label finally took to interest to release at least parts of the Placebo records (that are becoming scarce on the market) by issuing this compilation of the best tracks of the three vinyls. If there is a real meaning to that famous "Best Of XXX», this album is really out for the best tracks of an album (which is actually rarely the case, usually being the "most commercially successful of XXX") but it would rather die out then call itself such defaming a title. AND QUITE RIGHTLY SO!!!

I really mean it here, somehow the tracks chosen on this compilation are up to 95% of the ones I would have chosen, so remarkably so, that I am taking the time to write down. Although a compilation album can never replace the album feel (as opposed to a collection of tunes), but in this case, the compilation is so well done that it could become its own album. So in a way very Moulin way, he actually sampled his albums to make a new. Will that circle finally be broken? Not likely ;-) !!! And we would hate Moulin to stop being himself!!!

What we have here is a compilation album featuring the best tracks off of PLACEBO's three studio albums which were released between 1971 and 1974. Sean Trane in his review goes on for some time about the tracks chosen and how good they are and I agree with him, it's so rare to have a compilation album that has all the tracks on it that I want. Rarely the case. Five songs from the debut, and five from the second album, and five from that third record and yes this 80 minute album sounds like an actual album, it's so uniform and has the same vibe throughout.

This is some of the absolute best Jazz Rock/Fusion I have heard. I remember my first time through it, and getting more excited after each track but also waiting for the dud, but it never came. Without question a five star release that I just can't get enough of. Pair this with Marc Moulin's debut solo album "Sam' Suffy" and I have two of the best Jazz Rock/Fusion records in my collection. Marc the keyboardist here is a joy to listen to. This record also defies logic for me with all the horns in play but for some reason this record works for me big time.

I honestly could close my eyes and pick any five songs as my top five. So consistent. A must!