MARC MOULIN - SAM SUFFY

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!