MARC MOULIN - SAM SUFFY

The gradual demise of Placebo was a slow process, the group playing its last concerts during 76, but by that time, their leader Marc Moulin was already working on different project, often messing about with Cos, but also released his first solo album in early 75, which would, like Placebo's albums, become highly influential, especially in acid jazz and trip hop circles around the millennium change. Strangely enough, Moulin returned to CBS to release Sam Suffy (a pun on the expression "Ca me suffit" >> It suits me fine) with an artwork depicting the justice's highest court on a sandy beach of the North Sea, making it a semi-legend in its own country. With an un-credited bass player, wind player Rousselet (ex Placebo), the drum stool shared by Morales (ex-Placebo) or Castellucci, Marc Moulin handles all of the keyboards himself, except on a short track.

Musically, Sam Suffy is not far away from Placebo albums, but if anything the album is more even, because unlike the group efforts, SS had few covers (just one, a short Monk composition), which was always the weaker side of Placebo. So MM develops a superb melodic funky jazz-rock that will work wonders in samplings three decades later. Some will say that SS owes much debt to Hancock's Headhunter, but these typical Placebo grooves existed since their earliest albums, so it's not like the similarity is inspired or influence by Herbie.

The opening Le Saure is an enthralling funky piece with a cool groove, where Moulin switches from one keyboard to another, a bit like Herbie does. The short Thelonius Monk-penned Misterioso is probably the more experimental album with Rousselet's flugelhorn drawing monster sounds. The short From track is keyboard bonanza with Jasper helping out on electric piano. An interesting exercise, where Moulin toys with a Moog. La Blouse is another smooth-gliding funky groove, so typically early 70's. The short Bougie is a duo between Rousselet and Moulin's bluesy piano, probably the weaker track around. The closing playful jumpy Beau Galop has Marc tripping on his keys happily, without a sole care in the world.

The flipside is made from the sidelong five-movement suite, lasting (17 minutes) with Castellucci on drums (as opposed to Morales on the other side). The moods range from happy to sinister, from the sublime to the orgasmic, from dissonance and animal noises (the third movement) to pure heavenly grooves, with Rousselet blowing from a Miles Coltrane to a Ornette Sanders, the bassist pulling from you some spine shivers with his delightful touch.

Reissued in the late 90's on the Counterpoint Records label (also doing the Placebo compilation), the Cd came in handy for those looking to investigate Moulin's early 70's music, because the vinyls were fetching a small fortune, because eagerly searched for in the acid jazz and trip hop circles. MM's SS album is probably Marc' best works of the 70's, and this Cd is warmly recommended to everyone into JR/F, easily earning its fifth star.

4.5 stars. While this is listed here as PLACEBO's fourth studio album this is in fact Marc Moulin's debut solo album. PLACEBO blessed us with three studio recordings in the 70's and while their debut "Ball Of Eyes" failed to do much for me because of how inconsistent it was, the next two are very good 4 star albums. This one tops them all though and features three former PLACEBO members helping out on various tracks plus some non- PLACEBO members like Jasper Van't Hof from ASSOCATION PC on keyboards but again like the former PLACEBO guys he's not playing throughout "Sam' Suffy" just one track for him. Two different drummers including the former PLACEBO member, a horn player from Marc's former band, as well as Philippe Catherine(ex PLACEBO) adding guitar I believe on just one track.

Marc Moulin is one of my favourite keyboardists, I'm not into the speed and flash that most are impressed with, give me that tone please. He would be part of the avant Belgium band AKSAK MABOUL, as well as the incredible COS. He is so funny, he is a border line comedian and I will always feel indebted to him for also releasing under his own name a compilation record of the best tracks from the first three PLACEBO albums that couldn't possibly be more perfect. These two recordings blow me away and show in part the kind of legacy Moulin and PLACEBO left behind.

I can't get over the sound of this record. It's like listening to Miles at times and many of those incredible American Jazz/Fusion bands of the early seventies. I have had this on repeat the last two days just refreshing myself with this beautiful album. It's so consistent and high end that I just have to bump this up to 5 stars. Of the seven tracks only two of them would I give less than 5 stars to as far as songs go. One is the only cover on here of a Thelonious Monk tune but under 2 minutes and then "La Bougie" also under 2 minutes and both are good but man the rest is gravy all the way.

Released in 1975 and under 40 minutes, it also includes the side long suite called "Tohubohut" at over 17 minutes which is broken down into five tracks. I mentioned Marc's humour, check out part III that had me laughing out loud the first time I heard it and still continues to make me smile. It sounds like two horns talking to one another and laughing too. Has to be heard, hilarious. When I mentioned American Jazz/Fusion like Miles that is especially heard on the opener "La Saule" and "Le Beau Galop" two tracks that take their time and offer the most incredible sounds including this bass driven groove I love. Why am I thinking Bill Cosby here, I have a hard time putting into words how this album sounds and how meaningful it is to me.

The flugelhorn/trumpet, electric piano and bass just could not be more perfect and the bass player is uncredited which bothers me because it is so important to the sound here. Who was it? My music!