Moby — 18

18

V2/BMG

Darrin Keene (CHARTattack)

05/17/2002 2:06pm

Fans who've waited since 1999's Play for new Moby songs should be impressed at the quantity — and quality — of music on display here. He continues to juxtapose traditional sounds of the Southern U.S. with electronic dance arrangements, a formula that proved quite popular on Play.

For the most part, these familiar Moby sounds translate into alluring songs. "Signs Of Love," for instance, is a melancholy piece that begins with a majestic organ lead, builds in a manner similar to "Porcelain" and crescendoes in layers of jagged guitar.

The self-described "little white kid from the suburbs" is also rekindling his new wave roots.

The lead single, "We Are All Made Of Stars," knocks all syncopation off the beat, opting instead for a straightforward synth-pop groove and an infectious chorus hook. The disc's darkest and saddest moments provide the true highlights. "Sleep Alone" conjures up memories of Joy Division, while "Harbour" is driven by Sinead O'Connor's maudlin pipes.

The disc's most stunning moment is "At Least We Tried," a somber ballad that combines Freedom Bremner's piercing gospel croon with an understated beat and eerie synth interlude. It's worth noting these songs deal with loss, be it a dead couple revisiting old haunts on "Sleep Alone" or O'Connor singing about the "The saddest song to play on the strings of my heart."

A wise man named Elton John once claimed that "Sad songs say so much" and on 18, Moby offers ample proof that this is indeed true.

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