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ERYKAH BADU
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) Universal Motown ***

It's been more than a decade since Erykah Badu released her stone- cold classic debut, Baduizm, and influenced a slew of new soul sisters in the process. Badu herself realised that a game plan based on mystical consciousness and horizontal jazzy moods would not do for her, and instead followed her own highly singular star, releasing two albums which were as far from the lushness of her debut as you could get. What's interesting about New Amerykah Part One is that everyone else has probably caught up with Badu. The album's mix of slick soul, booming space funk, psychedelic rumbles, trippy jazz and stoned splendour will remind you of Funkadelic, Prince and Stevie Wonder at their most flamboyant. But those lyrical flights of fancy which dominate the album could only come from a Nubian queenpin now totally clued-in as to what she can do with that mesmerising voice of hers. www.baduworld.com

Download tracks: The Healer, Twinkle