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Moby: Last Night

09th May 2008 | by Aidan Williamson

To say that Last Night is a long awaited album, would be a slight understatement. Eagerly awaited by whom though, would perhaps be the pertinent question.

His ninth studio album sees Moby returning to the territory of 1999's "Play", a mixture a chilled-out ambient, mashed up with house, folk, and straight-ahead dance. The people eagerly awaiting such a 'return to form' is likely the boardroom around the global of various advertising agencies.

Such is the sign of Moby's intrinsic link with the world of advertising, that you start to idly imagine all the products which each song is likely to appear on. "Ooh Yeah", without a doubt belongs on an Oreo commercial with a young boy bopping his head as he cycles towards the camera. "I Love to Move In Here" likewise conjures visions of a lady in a red dress spinning through a bustling dance hall, showing off her new diamond necklace.

"Live For Tomorrow" - automobile advertisement, doubtless set in the freedom of a mountainous outback. Why are none of these ones ever set in a smoke-ridden traffic jam, which is where they'll likely spend most of their lives? Our final suggestion goes to "The Stars", likely showing the fantastic life you could be enjoying were you to take on a personal loan for the low, low rate of 39.9% APR from Pacific Finance. (names have been changed)

Needless to say, they'd never make the commercials unless they were inspirational, captivating tracks, and for the most part, the offerings on "Last Night" are. Supposedly based around the concept of a night out in the Big Apple, the album swirls from breezy chill-out vibes, to old-school house, through to post-industrial before finishing on a note of acid-trip paranoia and comedown.

The times have moved on though, and Moby seems to struggle to catch-up. Almost all of the songs are stepped in nostalgia and elicit a permanent sense of déjà vu. He seems convinced that music hit it's peak a while back and sets himself the task of capturing former glories, rather than to link it with a more contemporary feel. While anyone who has built a shrine to "Play" will certainly see reason to free up another corner of their basement, the rest of the world may want something more than 'competent' from the supposed saviour of electro-house.

On the upside, it can't hurt to familiarise yourself with these songs, you will be hearing them a lot this year. For now, we have the sudden urge to go purchase biscuits, jewellery and new cars, all paid for by mounting personal debt of course.

Rating:  6 / 10