Always Centered at Night

Always Centered at Night
A black-and-white photograph of Moby turned to the side, with his shadow behind him on a wall, overlaid with his name and the title in yellow text
Studio album by
Moby
ReleasedJune 14, 2024 (2024-06-14)
GenreElectronic
Length59:54
Label
  • Always Centered at Night
  • Mute
ProducerMoby
Moby chronology
Resound NYC
(2023) 		Always Centered at Night
(2024)
Singles from Always Centered at Night
  1. "Medusa"
    Released: June 1, 2022
  2. "On Air"
    Released: August 31, 2022
  3. "Fall Back"
    Released: November 2, 2022
  4. "Ache For"
    Released: December 14, 2022
  5. "Transit"
    Released: January 18, 2023
  6. "Should Sleep"
    Released: September 13, 2023
  7. "We're Going Wrong"
    Released: October 17, 2023
  8. "Dark Days"
    Released: March 19, 2024

Always Centered at Night is the 22nd studio album by American musician Moby, released on June 14, 2024, through Moby's label of the same name, Always Centered at Night,[1] and Mute Records.[2] Moby's first release on the label was the album's first single, "Medusa" featuring Aynzli Jones, issued in June 2022.[1] Similarly to his 2023 album Resound NYC, it features collaborations with vocalists on all tracks, although the tracks are new.[3] The album also includes a collaboration with British writer and musician Benjamin Zephaniah, who died in 2023.[4]

Background

[edit]

Moby commented that a thread throughout his career has been collaborating with singers and although the album "continues [his] love of collaborating", the focus for Always Centered at Night was "working with amazing singers who might not be as well known as David Bowie and Gregory Porter".[3]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
The Arts Desk[7]
Clash7/10[8]
The Line of Best Fit7/10[9]
MusicOMH[10]
PopMatters7/10[11]
Record Collector[12]
Spill Magazine[13]
Sputnikmusic3.8/5[14]
Uncut7/10[15]

Always Centered at Night received a score of 70 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, which the website categorized as "generally favorable" reception.[5] Clash's Robin Murray wrote that Moby acts "a fulcrum for a veritable galaxy of collaborators, resulting in an enriching, and surprising full length" and called the album both "a record replete with highlights" as well as "a rewarding experience which will do much to push back unjust preconceptions".[8] Puja Nandi of The Line of Best Fit described it as "a pick 'n' mix assortment of different styles influenced by the last few decades of electronic music".[9] Uncut's Stephen Dalton felt that the "luxuriant collection is one of Moby's most consistently inviting and uplifting in years".[15]

Raul Stanciu of Sputnikmusic wrote that Always Centered at Night "boasts a charm of its own. It does feel more varied and relaxed than its predecessors, compiling bits of everything we've heard Moby compose since 2008's Last Night".[14] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Paul Simpson remarked that while it "is certainly an electronic album, with hardly any obvious rock influences, it's not strictly made up of dance tracks, either" and it "actually sounds much closer to his pop-minded albums, except that he doesn't sing any of the songs. (Nothing against Moby's own voice, but the guest vocalists are welcome, considering that they all sound much better than him.)"[6] MusicOMH's John Murphy found it to be "beautifully produced, with an almost cinematic sheen to many of the tracks" but also "all very one-note" as it is "stuffed with mid-tempo mood pieces that never really go anywhere".[10]

Track listing

[edit]
Always Centered at Night track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."On Air" (with Serpentwithfeet)
4:11
2."Dark Days" (with Lady Blackbird)
3:32
3."Where Is Your Pride?" (with Benjamin Zephaniah)
  • Moby
  • Benjamin Zephaniah
3:38
4."Transit" (with Gaidaa)
  • Moby
  • Gaidaa Anwar Ali
5:11
5."Wild Flame" (with Danaé)
  • Moby
  • Danaé
4:41
6."Precious Mind" (with India Carney)
  • Moby
  • India Carney
4:54
7."Should Sleep" (with J.P. Bimeni)
4:27
8."Feelings Come Undone" (featuring Raquel Rodriguez)Moby4:05
9."Medusa" (with Aynzli Jones)
  • Moby
  • Aynzli Jones
  • Richard Hall
6:04
10."We're Going Wrong" (with Brie O'Banion)Jack Bruce4:19
11."Fall Back" (with Akemi Fox)
  • Moby
  • Akemi Fox Thompson
4:12
12."Sweet Moon" (with Choklate)Moby5:12
13."Ache For" (with José James)
5:28
Total length:59:54

Formats

[edit]

Always Centered at Night was released on CD, LP, and digital downloads.

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Always Centered at Night
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 88
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] 35
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 18
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 43
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 25
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[21] 26
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[22] 35
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[23] 3
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] 12

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Ingram, Niamh (June 4, 2022). "Moby launches new label, always centered at night". Mixmag. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Okazawa, Ben (March 19, 2024). "Moby Announces New Album always centered at night, Shares Single". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (March 19, 2024). "Moby announces Play 25th anniversary tour & new album (listen to "Dark Days" ft Lady Blackbird)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  4. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (March 19, 2024). "Moby unveils plans for first live shows in a decade to celebrate 25th anniversary of Play". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Always Centered at Night by Moby Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Moby – Always Centered at Night". AllMusic. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Green, Thomas H (June 14, 2024). "Album: Moby - Always Centered at Night". The Arts Desk. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Murray, Robin (June 12, 2024). "Moby – Always Centered at Night | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Nandi, Puja (June 14, 2024). "Moby's showcases obscured talent on Always Centered at Night". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Murphy, John (June 14, 2024). "Moby – Always Centered at Night | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Wilhelm, Rich (June 26, 2024). "TALENTED VOCALISTS EXPLORE MELANCHOLY MOODS WITH MOBY". PopMatters. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  12. ^ The results occasionally come within touching distance of essential. .... Yet more often than not it resembles a New York-flavoured spin in the retro coffee table house of Zero 7 or Lamb. [Aug 2024, p.105]
  13. ^ Love-Rainbow, Victoria. "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MOBY – ALWAYS CENTERED AT NIGHT". Spill Magazine. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Stanciu, Raul (June 14, 2024). "Review: Moby – Always Centered at Night". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Dalton, Stephen (July 2024). "Moby – Always Centered at Night". Uncut. p. 38.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Moby – Always Centered at Night" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Moby – Always Centered at Night" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Moby – Always Centered at Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Moby – Always Centered at Night". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Always_Centered_at_Night&oldid=1262523050"