Baby Elephant

Renowned keyboardist Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic fills this disc with sprawling synthesisers like his old band were still cutting albums. Producers such as DJ Toomp, the Neptunes, Timbaland and countless others owe him a debt of gratitude for being the first to tease sleazy rhythms from electric synthesisers. And now this, a new collection of mostly instrumental tracks from Worrell and his protégés: rap pioneer Prince Paul and Newkirk. Much of this work puts T-Pain to shame, though it’s not nearly as accessible as "I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper).” Stubborn to the ways of modern popular music, the trio put faith in the futuristic. Success strikes most clearly on "Fred Berry” and "Plainfield,” with its swelling organs and Shock G (he of "The Humpty Dance”) spouting profound gibberish like, "I used to be a sperm.” Where it tests the listener’s patience is with the hallucinogenic carnival reggae vibe of "Cool Runnins.” "If You Don’t Want To Dance” does Parliament-Funkadelic to a tee. This is for the funkster with a hankering for something different.