PLACEBO - NEVER LET ME GO
Almost a decade after releasing their seventh studio album, Placebo are back with Never Let Me Go, an album that has been in the works since 2018, and that can be described as not only a return to form for the legendary group, but quite possibly their best album since Without You I’m Nothing.
Completely made with full creative control and no restraints, the album was created in a way which could be considered unorthodox, as they focused on reverse engineering their project, whether it be with choosing the album cover first, creating a track list with no song written or recorded, and opting for creating said songs in a studio rather than with their usual jam sessions.
The lyrics are as meaningful as ever, in a world of uncertainty and inhumanity, one could say it accurately depicts societies frustrations, unheard voices, and fear on how the near future will be.
Serving as a socio-political commentary on today’s society harrowed by ecological catastrophe, violence, injustice, oversaturated technology, and division, it follows Placebo’s usual sounds, yet this time it is much more refined, featuring samples and themes that have been completely unheard and unexpected.
This rapidity in new sounds is apparent from the opening track, which is also the first highlight of the album, ‘Forever Chemicals’, which features distorted harps, leading into heavy, catchy riffs. This experimentation foreshadows the tone, and direction the album follows throughout the 13-song track list.
This leads into the first single, Beautiful James’, a celebration of non-heteronormative relationships, and one of the more melodic tracks on the album, quite possibly of their discography even. ‘Hugz’ channels inspiration from Doctor Who with one of the most memorable lines on the project “A hug is just another way of hiding your face”. These first three tracks breathe life into the project, setting the standard industrial theme throughout Never Let Me Go.
Harrowing follow up ‘Happy Birthday In The Sky’ thematically tackles the subject of loss and grief, saying happy birthday to the people that are no longer with us. It could also be associated with themes of depression and desperation after loss, primarily due to the suddenness and feeling of not having someone in your life anymore. ‘The Prodigal’ offers a moment of hope throughout the panic, but that is short-lived as second highlight of the album ‘Surrounded By Spies' shortly follows, overshadowing that light with the anxieties and problems modern technology brings, primarily those of surveillance, breach of privacy and the modern need to constantly upload our lives on the internet.
'Try Better Next Time’ signals the environmental issues and climate change the earth is facing, albeit with a happier, more melodic chorus and instrumental that contrasts the songs’ theme. ‘Sad White Reggae’, ‘Twin Demons’ and ‘Chemtrails’ take inspiration from Placebo’s earlier material, with refined synths, vocals and guitars that output that familiarity audiences have grown accustomed to.
‘This Is What You Wanted’ can be described as the duo’s most intimate song to date, with a haunting piano riff that faintly builds up with low drums and acoustic guitar. This intimacy leads to "When Missing’, an atmospheric, introspective song about escaping modern society, which perfectly leads into the final track of the album, which is also the final highlight of the project.
'Fix Yourself’ ultimately deals with all sorts of media in the modern world. “Go fuck yourself, don’t tell me how to feel” accurately portrays the mass media’s control over most of society, deliberately pigeonholing people into categories, dividing and creating rifts, whether it be through adverts, news, or social media outlets. “I am bored of your Caucasian Jesus” is quite a unique lyric which correlates with the band’s support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The song fades out with the repetition of lyric: “Go fix yourself, instead of someone else”, closing an album which has been a long time coming.
Never Let Me Go is a very complex, intricate return to form for Placebo, and one that will gracefully take a spot as one of the top albums in the band’s repertoire. With catchy, riffs, haunting instrumentals and experimentation and an accurate representation of today’s society and glaring issues, this album is one to look out for.
Daniel Tsourekas
★★★★☆