PLACEBO

The third album is rather disappointing in its goal to achieve what the previous album had promised, even if it came out on the "progressive" label Harvest, was probably the album showing that Marc Moulin was getting too restricted in the formula he had set himself.

The lenghty Stomp is a little too repetitive, but still a great moment, but it does have an end-of-era feel, while N W, also rather lenghty is a real reflective moment, the brassy funky Dag Madam is great change of pace, the closing S U S is again delving in Moulin's search for new electronic sounds (here almost a sonar), Plotselling being the main attraction the first side of the vinyl with its lenghty Rhodes lines (a little Ratledge- sounding here) while the winds induce a great added tension even if a drum solo comes in to ruin it a bit. Bosso is a Novo (I know;-) so typical of years to come.

Although Placebo will only disband at the end of 76, this will be their last album, and by giving an attentive ear to it (they do seem a little short of ideas), it seems that they stopped before making one more album, that would've been "l'album de trop". Luckily they did not!! However , before their eventual demise , Marc Moulin had put out a "solo group" effort called SAM SUFFY which is quite astounding, adventurous, eclectic and the perfect expression of what he wanted to do: expand from an octet to a trio: Grandiose!!!

He then will go on for an extensive and then extended career including a political and very satirical press-writing twist, an acid-jazz career, production of Cos and Philip Catherine albums and fronting electro-pop outfit Telex (ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons's preferred band) etc..

PLACEBO were a Jazz/ Rock band out of Belgium led by keyboardist Marc Moulin. This is their third studio album released in 1974 and Marc was certainly an experienced musician at this point being in his early thirties and being in the music business for some time already. He would later join AKSAK MABOUL playing on their debut. The other name I recognize is guitarist Philip Catherine who had already played on that incredible SUNBIRDS debut and he would also join with fellow guitarist Larry Coryell for some albums. Prog Archives shows a 12 piece lineup here with a lot of horn players and even some accordion. As Hugues mentions in his excellent bio of this band there is a MILES DAVIS and NUCLEUS vibe at times, usually when the trumpet is in play.

"N.W." opens with bass, a beat, cymbals and electric piano before the horns kick in. All these sounds come and go here and it's quite laid back and relaxed. I really like this. Tasteful is the word with the bass and drums being the constant throughout as other instruments come and go.

"Plotselling" opens with electric piano and cymbals followed by guitar and a beat. Flute before a minute. Horns start blasting around 1 1/2 minutes. Some nice guitar work after 2 minutes, very fluid. I love this stuff! It almost stops 4 minutes in as a drum solo kicks in and lasts until after 5 minutes when the electric piano, bass, guitar and more join in. Horns follow and they will get dissonant before 7 minutes.

"Bosso" opens with electric piano, drums, bass and guitar as a horn comes in over top. This is fairly uptempo and jazzy. The guitar replaces the horn after a minute with some fast paced playing. The flute joins the guitar a minute later. Catchy suff.

"Dag Madam Merci" starts out with bass, electric piano and a beat before the horns come in blasting followed by some jazzy guitar. Man that sounds like clavinet before 1 1/2 minutes. "Hop Hop" again opens with bass, drums, electric piano and more before the horns arrive blasting after 1 1/2 minutes. Some interesting intricate guitar melodies in this one. Why could they not have named this "Hip Hop"?

"Tanga" opens with the drums and electric piano sort of playing together as horns come in briefly then synths before the horns return. Accordion after a minute as it is contrasted with synths until 2 1/2 minutes in when the horns return.

"Stomp" must be a code name for funky? Yes this is funky and we get some trumpet after 2 minutes then the horns blast before 2 1/2 minutes as the funk continues. Synths to the fore then it's the horns again before 5 minutes followed by a manipulated horn. Electric piano then starts to lead late.

"S.U.S."opens with sounds that echo as cymbals can be heard and sparse percussion. Bass and drums join in just before a minute then a horn. So cool. Trumpet just before 2 minutes. Melancholic synths replace the trumpet after 2 1/2 minutes until horns arrive again at 3 1/2 minutes.

If your into that early Jazz/ Rock sound similar at times to NUCLEUS and Miles you should at least have a listen. A solid 4 stars.