Electronic artist Moby has released his 10th studio album, Destroyed, along with a companion book of his own photography. Both aim to capture the loneliness of life on tour and both do so masterfully.
Moby's latest work experiments with tuneful melancholy through electronic sounds. The artist has steered away from the stirring club beats that were so prominent in his earlier work. Still, the sound is decidedly Moby. Destroyed takes full advantage of a synthesis between orchestra and electronica from someone who does it best.
The album's first single, The Day, is a perfect blend of sad lyrics with an irresistibly hopeful beat. Moby's desolating vocals mesh perfectly with the essence of the song - although they may start to irritate after a while.
This album definitely isn't for everyone. Stella Morris is a five-minute exercise in string synths. With a distinct lack of percussions in the track, Moby pushes the boundaries. The end-product is beautiful, but ultimately tedious.
Destroyed works best if you think of the whole album as a single work; individually, tracks seem sparse and unfocused. In total, however, the album allows the listener to pick up on the subtleties of an overarching theme.
Destroyed shows all the marks of an artist's experimental spirit in a career that spans more than a quarter century. It's not Moby's best work, but it's a decent addition to his collection.