So how does Moby follow up his million selling last album, 'Play'? An album that many of us own and has accompanied numerous a dinner party or chill out session.

It's even the soundtrack to many adverts, including many car companies. That's not all that strange you may think, but this from a vegan who has spoken about environmental issues on several occasions. This is what you get with Moby; he is a man full of contradictions.

He is a Marxist-Christian who believes that there is a need for casual sex. So how does all this affect his music and his worldview? Well I believe we are left with the impression of a very talented man who is struggling with all that fame has brought him, while still tying to remain true to held beliefs. A man of confusions or a man of fusion?

"18"
The latter is certainly true of the music on his new album '18', as he fuses together the old gospel style with modern sampling and beats. This makes it sound very much of it's day, while being rooted in the past. Moby had written 150 songs for this album and as he says himself, '18 have made the lifeboat of this album.' Therefore we have a beautifully crafted set of songs that allows the listener to lose themselves in sweet melody and laidback sounds.

The more you listen, different tracks begin to stand out. Firstly the single 'We are all made of stars' draws you in but it is the subtler songs that make you want to stay. It is very difficult to pick out the good tracks as they are placed together to tell a story.

Cohesion
You don't have stand-alone chapters in a book, they flow together to form a whole. This album has a similar feel to it. Moby is trying to tell us where he's at, and expresses himself through the tracks. Songs such as 'in my heart', 'signs of love', 'sleep alone' and 'I'm not worried at all' hint at the state of mind that Moby finds himself in.

There's an interesting essay in the sleeve notes written by Moby, where he tells us how he used to be a rigid Vegan, Christian, Dance Enthusiast, Marxist who believed that he was right and everyone else was wrong. He has been scared by fundamentalism that he sees as one of the causes of 9/11. Now he questions what is truth and doesn't see anyone having the truth.

Contradictions
We are back to his contradictions as he also quite clearly expresses, ' I'm still a vegan and I love Christ and dance music (the Marxism has fallen by the wayside) but now I would never say that I was right in my beliefs.' Can you believe in something if you are not sure if it is right?

If you enjoyed 'Play' then you will probably enjoy this. 18 gets better each time you hear it. If you don't own 'Play' give this one a try. Whether we understand Moby any better, I don't think there is an easy answer to that one. I think he is reflecting a society where contradictions are commonplace; truth is not seen as absolute as we search for meaning in an increasing complex world.