Moore, who contributes vocals and guitar, was joined by bassist Guy Pratt, drummer Gary Husband, keyboardists and programmers Magnus Fiennes and Phil Nicholas, and backing vocalists Chyna Gordon and Dee Lewis.

[8] Neil McCormick describes it as an "understated song-based collection" encompassing lo-fi pop (as on "One Good Reason"), as well as shades of hip hop, world music and jungle.

[9] Of the more unusual material, "One Fine Day" has been described as a Beatlesque song containing a bassline evocative of the Beatles' "Rain" (1966), while "Like Angels" is a keyboard-heavy ballad reminiscent of late 1980s music,[5] whereas "Always There for You" uses racing jungle rhythms as a backdrop for an otherwise soulful track.

[6] The album design, courtesy of Sonicon,[4] depicts the long-haired Moore in a velvet jacket and sunglasses, along with a younger female model in her underwear; McCormick describes these as "all the usual accoutrements of a Seventies rock star".

[6] To further promote the album, Moore travelled on 2 June to Spain – traditionally one of his strongest markets – to appear on the popular television series Mississipi, and then began rehearsing in London for a European tour, beginning on 27 June as support act for Sting at Central Dynamo Stadium in Moscow, Russia; further live shows included the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on 9 July, with several British gigs following later in the year.

[5] Reviewing Dark Days in Paradise for The Daily Telegraph, McCormick said that despite having questionable artwork, the album itself "presents a strong case for clemency", noting that Moore was "catching up" on recent music.

He praised the "immediately appealing" production for its lack of bombast, and said that while Moore's mid-Atlantic singings remained irritating, the album ultimately "has a genuinely contemporary feel.

"[9] Steve Wiggins of Barry & District News recommended the album to those seeking a diverse selection of music, highlighting "One Fine Day" and "One Good Reason" as its best songs.

[7] In his review for Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Andrew Hirst also commented on the album's unusual array of styles and sounds, particularly noting the surprising nature of Moore creating a drum and bass track.

He described "I Have Found My Love in You" as "achingly gorgeous" and further praised "One Fine Day", and assured concerned fans that Moore "rocks as well" with shrieking guitars throughout the record.

"[19] In his retrospective review for AllMusic, Greg Prato commented that Moore was "at a career crossroads" by the late 1990s, choosing to "try something a bit contemporary" instead of continuing the blues sound that brought him American success earlier in the decade.