18
Following one of the most licensed CDs in history,18delivers more of the gospel samples and spiritual exploration that madePlayMoby's breakthrough  album. But keep your expectations in check. On18there is barely a body-rocker in the bunch. This is often a somber, melancholy disc, blanketed in the  washed-over cinematic orchestral melodies Moby's been fond of since his classicself-titleddebut. It requires several listenings before the gems shine through the  ambient fog--and most depart fromPlayentirely. On the deceptively minimalist opening track, Moby delivers a powerful message through his thin little  voice. "We are all made of stars," he sings, and indeed he's believable.MC Lytepunches out an infectious rap over old-school beat-box rhythms on "Jam  for the Ladies," offering one of the disc's few roof-raisers. "At Least We Tried" is a tear-jerking swan song of the highest order, and, finally, "The Rafters"  resurrects early-‘90s house piano, which will make any of Moby's career-long fans pine for his earliest club hits. The diminutive DJ needn't have producedPlay  Pt. Twoto keep his new fans engaged. Fortunately, his greatest talent for cooking up interesting sounds is still audible; you just need the patience to find  it.--Beth Massa