MOBY

Moby wrote the music for his ninth studio album in hotel rooms, during sleepless nights, suffering from insomnia, while touring. And according to the musician the music is best listened to at night, when the city is asleep.

The music evokes sentimental reflections rather than nocturnal feelings of both anxious isolation and the comfort of quiet solitude. And when the scene is supposed to be set at night, I honestly miss the transformation into music of the intriguing sharpness, the feel and the power of darkness.

Instrumental tracks alternate with songs. No surprises here – once the melody is set, each track progresses in a continuous flow, while computer voices add the necessary resonance. The up tempo compositions are predictable and repetitive.

On track 7 (Lie Down in Darkness) a moment of recognition: the sound of 1999's Play, that introduced Moby to a mainstream audience. And yes, his earlier work was better.

Overall: a bit boring, lack of experimentation and inventiveness.

Destroyed is available on CD, vinyl and digital formats.

Bernadette ALLAERT
17/05/2011