MOBY'S record label Mute say his hotly anticipated new album is to be unleashed on the public in May.

To be called 18, the album will feature 18 tracks and features guest vocalists including Angie Stone and MC Lyte.

The musician has been recording his follow-up to the 10 million selling Play in New York over the past year and plans to release the track We Are Made Of Stars as the first single.

When asked about the album's title, Moby was typically mysterious: "In addition to the record being called 18 because there are 18 songs on it, there are other more obscure reasons for its name."