Continuing a triumphant early-2020s creative resurgence,
Moby once again mines his mainstream peak period with another catalog reimagining for
Deutsche Grammophon,
Resound NYC. Taking songs that he recorded in New York City from 1994 to 2010, this is more than just a simple "add some strings, make it classy" orchestral reworking: these are transformations on a grand, opulent scale that push the tracks to cinematic proportions, almost making the originals sound like bedroom demos.
Moby blasts off with
Gregory Porter on the uplifting, euphoric "In My Heart" from 2002's
18, a potent introduction that leads into another
18 cut, "Extreme Ways" with
Dougy Mandagi, a full-band-and-orchestra moment so epic it could grace an opera house stage. The mood shifts from Radio City to the jazz club as funky horns blare and a slinky bassline grooves on "South Side," a riotous celebration made even more energetic by
Ricky Wilson of
Kaiser Chiefs. Later,
Amythyst Kiah merges
Nina Simone and
Meshell Ndegeocello on the bluesy "Flower (Find My Baby)," which combines the
Play hit with its B-side, just as "Run On" and "Walk with Me" take the smoky blues delivery even further with the help of
Danielle and
Elijah Ponder and
Lady Blackbird, respectively. Emotions swell on the heartfelt "In This World" with a duetting
Marisha Wallace and
Nicole Scherzinger; on the tender "Signs of Love"; and on the sweeping, string-backed elegy "When It's Cold I'd Like to Die" with
P.T. Banks. Like on 2021's
Reprise, these midtempo inclusions once again highlight the deep well of heart and soul that has always resided beneath the dance beats and atmospheric synths in
Moby's catalog, showcasing his knack for making listeners feel as much as they want to rave. Additional standouts include "The Perfect Life" -- a
Bowie-esque reworking with a returning
Wilson that tugs on the heartstrings like an indie/emo anthem before exploding with triumphant horns and a life-affirming choir section -- and "Second Cool Hive" featuring
Oum and
Sarah Willis, an all-encompassing swirl of bongos, strings, and synths that builds upon "First Cool Hive" from his 1995 breakthrough
Everything Is Wrong. Hearing these decades-old hits in a fresh light is revelatory. By injecting such a collaborative, human element into the beloved originals,
Moby pulls off yet another successful catalog reimagining with heart and soul to spare. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
![Resound NYC [Clear Vinyl]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0028948633999_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg)
![Resound NYC [Clear Vinyl]](http://img.images-bn.com/static/redesign/srcs/images/grey-box.png?v11.9.4)
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