VOODOO CHILD BABY MONKEY ALBUM V2, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: FEBRUARY 2, 2004 REVIEW: FEBRUARY 16, 2004

First: This is not a new album by Moby. This is an album that Moby releases as Voodoo Child, in a strange way hoping – despite all the press releases and rumours saying he is the creator – that it will not be compared to his other records.
It will.
Second: This is not album at all. It is a journey through time, to the dance scene of the early nineties; a scene where electronica purists still ruled supreme.
And I ask: Why?
Moby is a very talented guy when it comes to music. And this is a nice set of danceable tunes in the vein of of his later releases (just listen to the blues sample in first song "Gotta Be Loose in Your Mind"), with a large dose of rave techno. And yes, this is house too, but not of the ambient, Orb-like kind. More Orbital at their more Kraftwerk mood in the 90:s though, since you can find traces of in nice stringent "Electronics".
As you can see, there is quite easy to trace the music back in history and the link back to Moby himself is more than evident – both in the superb craftsmanship and the signature melodies and strings. Although this time they have had to take a step back to make room for the beat. The main question remains: Why has Moby made this listenable, but not very relevant record? Answer: Because he loves music. Had he been an artist without millions in his pockets, he would have had to come up with something new and interesting instead of this nicely executed nostalgia. Now, he can kick back and make the flawless and sometimes pointless, music he likes.
And he does, just for the hell of it. You have to admire him for that. And of course honour him by taking a few dance steps to this perfectly OK album. It’s about Love, after all.

KALLE MALMSTEDT