Moby’s Reprise offers up a collection of songs from his three-decade-long career in music. The compilation is released by Deutsche Grammaphon/Universal Music Canada and features special guests Kris Kristofferson, Gregory Porter & Amethyst Kiah, Skylar Gret, Mark Lineman and more.
Moby is one of the USA’s most prominent electronic exports. Achieving global sales of more than 20 million albums, he has also scored eight Top 10 hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart. The multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated artist is also an author of four books, a supporter of philanthropy and humanitarian aid and a staunch advocate for animal rights.
“Philanthropy is the most important part of my life,” Moby says. “I had to realize that, at my core, these issues are more important to me than my own life and my well-being.”
Source: npr.org
Reprise
On May 28, Moby offered up Reprise. This new release offers a reflection of the artist and activist’s career. The album is a celebration of Moby’s musical highlights over thirty years, in collaboration with the Budapest Art Orchestra. Moby’s rave classics and downtempo electronic classic hits have been rearranged, resulting in a 14-piece orchestral and acoustic reimagining of his hits. In addition to the Budapest Art Orchestra, Moby is joined by a stellar line-up of guest artists which span across the musical spectrum. These include Alice Skye, Amethyst Kiah, Apollo Jane, Daringside, Deitrick Haddon, Gregory Porter, Jim James, Kris Kristofferson, Luna Li, Mark Lanegan, Mindy Jones, Nataly Dawn, Skylar Grey and Vikingur Olafsson.
The Rework
Moby shared a track from Reprise on 26 March 2021. The first single release is a reimagining of the hit track “Porcelain” from his seminal album Play. This brand new version features vocals by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. This first release will take you back to another decade to an album shrouded in nostalgia.
The album soars to previously unreached heights during “Natural Blues”, featuring Gregory Porter and Amethyst Kiah.
The pace is stirring, in an almost agonising rhythm as Gregory speaks to your heart. Warm, suburban, dense, fiery…. ‘Oh Lordy, my trouble’s so hard’, a heartfelt lament delivered in true gospel fashion.
Source: Weraveyou
Be prepared for a tug on your heartstrings during “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad”, featuring Apollo Jane and Deitrick Haddon. “God Moving Over The Face Of The Water” has a great orchestral arrangement, one of the best on the album. “Extreme Ways”, famous from the Bourne franchise, is more hypnotic than before. “The Last Day” featuring Skylar Grey is sparser, slower and more cinematic.
The Verdict
Reprise is classical, fortified and offers up Moby with a renewed sense of clarity and peace. This new pace is, at times, in contrast to the bombastic potential which only a full orchestra has to offer. Three decades into Moby’s career, Reprise is less of a greatest hits record and more of a chance to reflect on the way in which art can adapt over time to different settings and contexts.
“Sorry if this seems self-evident, but for me the main purpose of music is to communicate emotion,”
Offers Moby, in the press release for Reprise,
“To share some aspect of the human condition with whoever might be listening.” Why include an orchestra? “I long for the simplicity and vulnerability you can get with acoustic or classical music.”
The Seeds of Reprise
Moby was invited to take part in his first-ever classical collaboration in October 2018. This event was a live concert of his music at Walt Disney Concert Hall with his friend Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in October 2018. This collaboration went on to become the driving force behind Moby‘s Reprise.
MOBY DOC
2021 thus far has written a new chapter for Moby. In addition to the release of Reprise, he has also put forward a documentary film. The biopic, entitled Moby Doc, is directed by Rob Bralver. Moby Doc is a surrealist biopic, narrated by Moby. Throughout the film, he reflects upon his turbulent personal life and musical journey from underground punk to chart-topping solo artist. Moby also details his struggles with addiction and experiences with vegan activism. The film features interviews with David Lynch and David Bowie, along with extraordinary concert footage. The film creates unique blends of re-enactments, interviews and archival footage. Audiences will enjoy an insightful, unvarnished look at the artist whose traumatic childhood has shaped him in profound ways.
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