In the last 15 years, one-man band Moby, the stage name of 40-year-old New Yorker Richard Melville Hall, has done it all. He’s gone from punk (with the Vatican Commandos) to electronic music (in the widest possible sense) and onto hard rock; he’s covered his favorite film scores in the release I Like To Score; he’s played keyboards, guitars, bass and drums; he’s sampled, remixed and produced; he’s gone on a strict vegan diet; he saw the Twin Towers collapse on his birthday. And last but not least he’s fustigated the Bush administration and criticized Eminem!
After six albums, including two huge international sellers, 18 and Play, the man has a new CD, Hotel, that collects all these experiences. And more.
Well, not really. Carefully crafted, this highly anticipated release does deliver all the ingredients that brought him to fame; electronic compositions, synthesizer wonders, attractive female backup vocals, hypnotic samples and more catchy tunes than you can shake a bottom at. “Lift Me Up”, for example, is prime stuff. But something rankles. An obviously skilled and creative musical artist, Moby breaks no new ground. Perhaps the result of having already done it all.
EMI

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
September 2005 issue