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SCMP Reporter

Placebo

Sleeping With Ghosts

(Virgin)

After the disappointment and deserved panning of their last album, Black Market Music (NME gave it 0/10), Placebo have taken stock, found fresh direction and a new sound for their latest offering Sleeping With Ghosts.

Part of the problem with Black Market was the trio's efforts at sonic expansion failed to impress and lyrically Brian Molko seemed to be losing the plot.

He of the dodgy hair cut and sensitive nature was clearly stung by the criticism and has come back with deeper words and a more balanced sound that still strives to be a crossover of scatter-beat electronics and bristling guitars.

The results are mixed and there's still a feeling of an identity crisis in the Placebo camp. But there are moments of greatness, especially This Picture, which is the only track that sounds like its played with pure passion without any of the pretence.

The title song has a certain haunting beauty, and although Molko is singing about an old flame, his digs at religion, war and government lies have never seemed more relevant. It also successfully fuses a more atmospheric and layered sound with their traditional guitar-driven pop-rock.

If you get off on self-indulgent, introspective pop then Sleeping With Ghosts will bring meaning and purpose to your life. Once Placebo were up there with Suede as a narcotic, adrenalin-filled equivalent to bland indie bands, but now they want to be Radiohead. Trouble is they never had the Silk Cut charm of the former and, judging by this album, will never have the emotional depth of range or musicianship of the latter.



Placebo