Reviewed by Tony Cummings

IN THE MAINSTREAM

Having long thought Moby to be wildly overrated and perceiving the appeal of 'Play' to be as much to do with its placement in adverts selling Adidas trainers and Rolling Rock beer as much as its inherent musical quality, I viewed this new album with a certain amount of suspicion. In many ways it's a repetition of what has gone before, there are the same fragile melodies, the same melancholic piano lines, the same muted club beats and the same foraging among Alan Lomax's field recordings of American folk, blues and gospel music for source samples. There are some good moments here I suppose, the deep house throb of "Another Woman" and the gospel anthem "I'm Not Worried At All" but too much of this album seems like a watered down version of 'Play' and even heavy weight guests like Sinead O'Connor and Angie Stone doesn't really lift this to the first rank. Also, on the song "Extreme Ways" Moby reveals his recent post-ascetic self-indulgence ("So many dirty things/You wouldn't even believe"). Tragically from a self confessed "Christian" with no church affiliation such failings are only too believeable. A final thing, one day I'd like to interview the Shining Light Gospel Choir and find out how much royalties their consummate vocal talents as demonstrated on the last two Moby mega hits have earned them.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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