22MusicWeek 06.09.13 INTERVIEW PLACEBO
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THE PLACEBO EFFECT Y
TALENT n BY RHIAN JONES
ou might be forgiven for thinking Placebo have gone soft. The title of their seventh studio album, Loud Like Love, doesn’t
exactly suggest the dark and strange sounds of their 12 million-selling back catalogue. Lead man Brian Molko is 40-years-old after all - perhaps 20 years in the business has finally gleaned a more positive outlook? Nah. Turns out Molko has lost none of his
warped and dejected mojo. The album is rife with jealousy, obsession and heartbreak. Placebo are still very much Placebo. Recorded in London’s RAK studios, Loud Like
Love was produced by Adam Noble (George Michael, Paul McCartney and Red Hot Chili Peppers). Issued via a Universal Germany label deal, it’s the band’s first major label release for a while, following a short stint with [PIAS], through which
“I got a certain amount of glee from attacking love as a theme [for this album]. The potential reaction from fans put a mischievous smile on my face” BRIAN MOLKO
they released 2009’s Battle For The Sun on their own Dreambrother Records. A fresh line-up means we now effectively have
‘Placebo mark three’, according to guitarist and co- writer Stefan Olsdal. After drummer Steve Hewitt left in 2007, young buck Steve Forrest has now been properly initiated on sticks. Here the band tell Music Week why they are feeling ‘stronger than ever’.
The title of Loud Like Love is quite misleading, was that a strategic move? Brian Molko:During the writing process it became apparent that an underlying theme was emerging
and at that point you can either commit to it and follow your instincts or get intellectual and try and steer it off in another direction because you may consider that subject ‘un-Placebo-ish’. Writing songs about love seemed like such a un-
Placebo subject to tackle so I got a certain amount of glee from the idea of attacking love as a theme. I must admit the potential reaction from hardcore fans also put a mischievous smile on my face. We ended up writing about the darker recesses of that emotion. All along our career we never really set out to be dark and alternative, it’s just what came out and with this record it’s the same thing - it’s very much a part of me. I don’t think we ever decided what we were supposed to sound like and write about, so we approach each recording session with that sense of ‘anything can happen’.
What were you influenced by when recording the new album? BM: Two things really. I don’t listen to a lot of rock
Placebo are back with a new album after a cool 17 years in the business. Returning to a major after an indie label experiment, and with a fairly fresh line-up - what have they learnt?
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