18 [CD]

Perhaps after I have done so I might change my standing on this record. But I really have to say, the first time I played this album, I was totally moved by it! It was exactly what I wanted, its groovy and relaxing. Every track just allows u to simply melt away.

I feel a slight reference to Pink Floyd on some tracks. Some of these tunes particularly 'In this world' make me think about them and no doubt they have influenced Moby. And thats not a bad thing because this album has shown me what a great talent this man is. This album is brilliant!

One thing that is a little annoying is the fact that Moby only sings on three tracks, the best of which is 'Extreme Ways'. All of them are really good.

Another thing I do feel is that no track really stands out. They all just seem to blend into one brilliant piece of chill out music.

This record does the trick for me. You can just do what ever you want to get up to and have this album playing in the background.

Alternatively you can just sit back and let this grand bunch of '18' tunes let u forget about lifes worries and just melt away. Moby lets you reach the stars and like he says 'We are all made of stars'.

5 stars in my book...... but then again......it is my book!

'Moby' did not set out to explore the extremities of the musical universe with this album. He wanted to create a nice consistent album. That is what this album is. If Moby created a completely different album people would write how it is not as good and say he should have stuck to the same formula. But he chose the other alternative; to draw on his previous efforts and create an album on similar lines. But he still gets criticised for not being experimental. Why is this? Moby has searched for the type of music that he likes playing most and that is popular. He has found it.

'We Are All Made Of Stars' is a great upbeat opener for '18'. Quite different from any other song on the album, Moby mixes the effects of numerous instruments and his vocals with a solid beat. Next is 'In This World', a typical Moby song combining blues with a lovely swirling melody. As already mentioned by other reviewers this has a hint of 'Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad' in it. But that isn't a bad thing. All artists create similar songs. The only way you can avoid this is to change musical genre after writing every song, and what you'd end up with would be a mess.

'Signs of Love' is a personal favourite of mine. Moby provides gentle warming vocals against a beautiful drifting backdrop.

'Extreme Ways' is a more powerful record than most on this album, yet it still retains the subtlety.

Making a brief return to his disco days, 'Jam For The Ladies' sees Moby creating a more upbeat track. Mid-album, this acts as a nice interlude between the predominant blues theme. 'At Least We Tried' is a good example of this theme. The vocals are very soulful, and the melody is simple but effective. The next track, 'Harbour', has an echoing voice against a more definitive guitar and piano melody, which drifts you away by the end of the song.

This album is more than just a continuation of 'Play'. In ways this is in fact better. 'Play' was an experimental album, and so it deviated a lot. '18' is a much more solid attempt. Don't criticise it just for being similar. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy his latest offering, because next time, we may find Moby somewhere completely different in the musical universe.

The entire album benefits from all the guest vocalists who seem to understand Moby's direction, but then, he uses most of their talent in precorded snippets - and that's fine.

"Im Not Worried At All" finishes off the album with a great Gospel rendition by The Shining Light Gospel Choir.

Moby has managed to match his previous work with another collection of satifying works. This is a album worth repeated listenings.