After wrapping one's mind around the lofty thematic aspirations of this work, he or she will probably pick up on a lot of the Bowie influences. Anyone who was fortunate enough to attend Bowie's spectacular 2002 show at Roseland (in NYC) in which Bowie performed the entire Low album, then came back out to premier the Heathen album, will readily see the powerful parallels with Moby's work. Another album that comes to mind is the beautiful Plight and Premonition by David Sylvian and Holger Czukay. Moby wears his influences on his sleeve as well as his basic appearance (he even looks like Brian Eno). That's not a bad thing when the work that Moby is creating is as monumental as Hotel.

I've never thought of Moby as much of a vocalist. His main appeal was in the deft use of other voices within the structures of electronic symphonies. Astoundingly, his voice sounds good to me in this work. Accompanied by lovely female voices, he actually shines not just as an electronic music wizard, but as an overall musician. There are several moments of great inspiration and joy on this disc. Grand themes of hope and love emerge out of recognition that life is tough - often brutal. He effectively covers the entire spectrum in this epic work. Added brilliance comes wonderfully in the form of the New Order cover song. It is here that Moby demonstrates his amazing ear for music. He modernizes his influences and takes the sounds to higher levels of evolution and new dimensions of experience.

This is a masterful, substantive work that captures an artist at the top of his game.