Love him or hate him, electronic artist Moby has managed to permeate himself into mainstream culture, thanks in part to his omnipresence in commercials, soundtracks and the like since the release of his multi-platinum album Play.

Now the bald vegan is up to some new tricks, releasing a new album under his musical alter ego, Voodoo Child.

The album, Baby Monkey, is not the mainstream Moby we all know and maybe love; rather, it's a more primal version of Moby that hasn't been seen in nearly a decade.

Returning to his trance/electronic dance roots, Baby Monkey is an almost entirely instrumental album full of groovy dance beats and synthesized sounds that work great on the dance floor of a rave or club.

However, if you're looking for sing-along ditties, look elsewhere.

This really is a concept album with each track flowing from one to the next in a seamless manner, but it's only really meant for the biggest of Mobyphiles.

In a world full of modern technology that lets even the most tone-deaf wannabe make music, Baby Monkey may not seem like the creative leap forward one would hope for from someone as esteemed in his genre as Moby. However, it's a definite upbeat change of pace for the typically morose musician. Good or bad, a real fan can tell Moby had fun making this album.

Let's put it this way -- don't make this your first Moby album. Buy Play, learn to love him, and then check out Baby Monkey.

-- Reviewed by Jay Cox