"Play" is the fifth studio album by American electronic musician Moby, released on 17 May 1999 by Mute Records internationally and on 1 June 1999 by V2 Records in North America. Recording began in mid-1997 following the release of his previous album "Animal Rights" (1996), which marked a stylistic departure from his earlier electronic work. With "Play", Moby aimed to return to an electronica-oriented sound while incorporating elements of downtempo, blues, and roots music. The album was recorded primarily at his home studio in Manhattan and was initially conceived as his final release. At the time of its release, Moby’s career had experienced a decline following the commercial and critical reception of "Animal Rights". During the late 1990s, he faced reduced audiences and industry setbacks, including being dropped by his American label. Despite this, he continued working on "Play", completing it after multiple mixing attempts and delays. Early expectations for the album’s commercial performance were modest. Musically, "Play" combines electronic production with samples drawn from a range of sources, particularly field recordings collected by folklorist Alan Lomax. These recordings, featured on the compilation "Sounds of the South: A Musical Journey from the Georgia Sea Islands to the Mississippi Delta", provided vocal material for tracks such as "Honey", "Find My Baby", and "Natural Blues". The album also incorporates gospel samples and blends genres including blues, folk, hi