moby-lastnight music reviews Virgin Media
The original techno boffin returns to the dancefloor
In 1999 Moby cunningly knitted together blues, gospel and atmospheric house for the multi-million selling Play - an album where every song seemed to end up as the soundtrack to a TV advert. Subsequent albums – 18 and Hotel – were increasingly moody with the dance element lost in the mix.
Last Night – a concept album about New York nightlife, according to the 42-year-old vegan – is a return to a winning formula with slick beats and ice-cold synths interweaved with snatches of exotic female vocals. The album's at its best when it's trying on Daft Punk's retro disco boots (Ooh Yeah and 257.Zero) or reminding everyone of the magnificence of Black Box (Everyday It's 1989) and works well as a boffin's potted history of modern clubland. Plenty of highs, then, but also a couple of turgid low points in Degenerates and Sweet Apocalypse, which are basically extended answers to the question 'what does this button do?'
More to try:
Robert Miles: Organik
Daft Punk: Discovery
Deborah Harry: Def, Dumb & Blonde
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