Moby is one of the most notorious figures in modern music. He has gained a reputation as a vegan preacher, much like Michael Stipe of REM. But that reputation should not overshadow his music, which is very good. Moby is a DJ who creates many songs by sampling. But he doesn’t just sample. He has also made recordings where he has played all the instruments from guitar to keyboard. This is demonstrated on his 1999 album Play.
I bought the Play album after hearing the songs Porcelain and South Side and liking them both. When I opened the CD and put it in my stereo I was surprised to discover that I also knew several of the other songs on it such as Can’t Find My Baby.
The album opens with ’’Honey’’ which features a sample from an old gospel song. The chant goes ’’When my honey comes back. Sometime’’. The chant is repeated throughout the song. But Moby does various things with the song so it never becomes tedious. He changes the background music and experiments with the sound.
Moby repeats that approach with the next song on Play, ’’Can’t Find My Baby’’. You may have heard this song in a Levi’s commercial at some point in 2000. Here Moby samples a lyric from an old blues song and runs it through various musical backing. A pulsing drumbeat echoes in the background along with an excellent keyboard line mixed with bits of electric guitar.
The single ’’Porcelain’’ starts off with a slight techno type sound. But it is then mixed with bits of piano playing. Moby’s vocals here have a slight New Age type feel to them. It is thus not surprising that the song wound up on one of the ’’Pure Moods’’ compilations that are commonly advertised on TV. Moby sings ’’In my dreams I’m dying all the time. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to lie. So this is goodbye. Tell the truth you never wanted me’’. The female backing vocals towards the end add to the mood.
’’Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad’’ begins with some more piano playing by Moby. This song also has the bluesy feel to it. The backing here features a kind of techno backbeat that mixes with the piano and Moby’s vocals.
’’South Side’’ is probably the most pop-oriented song on the album and it is an example of what all pop songs should be. The version on the CD I have features Gwen Stefani sharing the vocals with Moby, some older versions have the original which features M2oby singing alone. The song is currently getting a lot of radio and MTV play. The song starts with a pop type beat then Moby sings ’’See myself in the pouring rain. I watch hope come over me.’’ Gwen joins in on the chorus ’’Here we are now going to the east side. We pick up my friends and we go for a ride. Ride all night and ride all day. Looking out for a sunny day’’. The lyrics make me think of cruising with my friends.
’’BodyRock’’ is one of the more simple songs on the album. The song consists more or less of the lyric ’’Rock y’all. Body rock y’all. Can’t stop y’all. To the beat y’all’’ A good party song. ’’Natural Blues’’ is probably the best song on the album. Here Moby samples another gospel song, which features the lyrics ’’Oh lordy I’ve traveled so hard. Don’t nobody know my troubles with god’’. The song has an excellent background that gives it the feel of old blues and gospel.
’’Machete’’ has a techno backing that recalls Prodigy while the lyrics apparently deal with drug addiction (’’Took the needles from my eyes and put them to the sky’’).
The only real strike against Play is the fact that there are a few generic techno songs on it. A few of the songs such as ’’7’’ and ’’Down Slow’’ sound like generic club music.
But overall, with 18 songs, it’s impossible for even the most discriminating listener to not find something to like on Play. Definitely check it out.
Note: If you like this album and want to hear more Moby, check out Everything Is Wrong. If you want to hear some other electronic artists try Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim.